Set up gmail and Google Drive

31 January 2013

You could set up a gmail account from your PC or you could do it from a tablet. The quickest way to do this is to search for gmail and work from there. There are some steps outlined below if you need help doing this.

One of the options that will appear will be Gmail: Email from Google. Click on the Gmail option and that will open the following screen.

If you already have a gmail account simply fill in your email and password information.

If you don’t already have a gmail account then click here to create one. In either case, please write down your Email username and password on the sheet provided so that you have a record of it along with the other usernames and passwords that you will need.

Why would you want another email account? A gmail account not only gives you another email account which is web based and can be accessed from anywhere, it also gives you access to Google Drive.

What is Google Drive and why would I need it?

Google drive is a cloud based storage area which allows you to upload files, photos, videos etc and have access to them wherever you can access the internet. You can keep your information private where only you can see it or you can set permissions so that you can share with others. You can even collaborate on files where others can be editing your files at the same time you are. Great if you have a couple of people working on the same project or task.

1 | DCSI – Set up gmail and Google Drive Be aware that you are not allowed to use cloud storage for any sensitive corporate files. Google Drive is everywhere you are—on the web, in your home, at the office and on the go. So wherever you are, your files are just...there. Ready to go, ready to share. Get started with 5 GB free.

Google Drive is available for:  PC and Mac  Chrome OS  iPhone and iPad  Android devices Store your files in a safe place.

Things happen. Your phone goes for a swim. Your laptop takes an infinite snooze. No matter what happens to your devices, your files are safely stored in Google Drive.

Go beyond storage - Collaborate

Google Drive lets you do more than just store your files. Share files with exactly who you want and edit them together, from any device. Google Drive gives you instant access to Google Docs, a suite of editing tools that makes working together better—even when your teammates are miles away. The suite of editing tools are very similar to working with MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and you can open files created in any of those programs in the editing tools provided within Google Drive. Very handy on a tablet device. When you've finished editing them you can then save them back to Google Drive and they will be available next time you access your PC, smartphone or tablet. This facility can be very useful when using a tablet as it is not designed to be a working tool but this gives you the means to use it as such, particularly when you are away from your desk or if you need to use the same files at work and at home. Google Drive will always have the latest version of your file that you have saved regardless of where you saved it so that you can keep working on the file from where you left off last time you edited it.

2 | DCSI – Set up gmail and Google Drive Using the editing tools

To access Google Drive do a search and follow the prompts which will bring up the following screen

Fill in your gmail username and password and then click on Sign in.

Because you will be sharing the tablets with others, please don't click on Stay signed in as the next person who uses this tablet will have access to your email account and google drive. However this is a good idea if you will be using your own tablet as it will always be available to you when you turn the tablet on.

Editing Tools

Make sure that you click on the Desktop option as this gives you access to similar menus and commands that you use in Microsoft products. They are familiar and make life easy. It’s not very user friendly without them. You can access it from either the link at the bottom of the screen or from the dropdown indicated above.

3 | DCSI – Set up gmail and Google Drive