Try https://gmail.google.com/gmail/ -- that suggestion came from Google support when I had trouble for a while accessing some of the gmail features.
I figured out it was a problem with Gmail Notifier, it wasnt actually Gmail itself (this time anyway) I agree about your professionalism point. I use domain name email addresses pertaining to each website, but just for general business usage I use Gmail.
I dumped the Notifier once they came out with the POP mail option. I found that the Notifier would peridoically just crash or pop up error messages about not being able to connect.