Google has started rolling out the revamped version of Gmail, and we've switched over to the latest version in the V3 office.

Opinions are split, the style in which messages are displayed being the main sticking point. It reminds us of the changes made to Google News, which were also radical.

The new Gmail does have a much simpler look, and there is generally more space between categories and messages. We like the big red Compose button as it is easily identifiable and the ability to adjust the size of the chat bar adds convenience.

We found that adding a theme made it easier to read the text. Below, we chose the 'Terminal' theme as the black and white contrast works really well. There are a number of additional HD themes and there is bound to be one to suit individual tastes.

The settings menu has also been revamped. For a short time, Google allows users to revert to the retro Gmail and themes can be picked from this menu. As you can see the 'display density' now be adjusted - this basically closes the gaps between categories and message - so choosing the 'compact setting' will make the layout look very much like the old Gmail.

Comprehensive searches can be carried out easily simply by clicking in the corner of the search bar, and then filling out the necessary boxes. It really has been simplified to the extreme and helps to find things faster.

We found the conversation thread to be a big improvement over the previous version of Gmail and this is probably our favourite feature. Emails now read more like an instant message and aren't hidden away. Pictures of friends are also displayed on the left, adding a more personalised feel.

Overall, the revamp is a really great effort from Google and helps keep Gmail up at the top of the email clients. The conversation threads are a major improvement and advanced searching has been made much easier. The ability of Gmail to resize itself to fit small windows will also be invaluable to business users who regularly have multiple panes open when using large displays.

02 Nov 2011