"what's the best email service offered today on the internet?"

I have several email accounts with some leading web mail services such as Yahoo and Hotmail and some on a domain name I have purchased.
 
Until I had started using Gmail (about 3 - 4 years ago), I really disliked using web based email and preferred to download them to a desktop client such as MS Outlook or Outlook Express. Most because of the slow, uncomforable and somewhat ackward interface most had. However, once I started using Gmail, I loved it right from the beginning; today I forward all my email addresses - including my ISP based email and my domain based emails to my Gmail account - (unformtunately Hotmail and Yahoo cannot be forwarded to Gmail.)
 
There are several reasons why I liked Gmail so much among them:
 
* One of the best "Web 2.0" user interfaces around. It was definitely unique when first came out even though other web based emails have moved into that direction  - such as Yahoo. In any case, I do find Gmail interface to be the best around. I still preferred it to Yahoo new look and can't stand the corporate Outlook web interface for my work address (based on ActiveX and equals crap!)
 
* Tags!!!! The ability to tag a message with more that one tag is so much better then the traditional way of keeping a message within a specific folder. At work, using Outlook, so many times I have email messages that fit into more than one folder; as I have to choose the more "appropriate" one, I'm really missing that special feature. Of course I could add categories to email but it's just not the same. The ability to add (infinite) number of tags for each message and then archive it is an excellent feature that makes searching for specific message or viewing related messages using different "search criteria" so much simpler.
 
* Spam Filter: It's amazing the great job Gmail is doing in filtering spam. The amount of spam I used to get was just overwhelming to say the least! When are they going to outlaw that!!! ! Gmail spam filter manages to filter though the vast majority of them and rarely do I get any spam message in my Gmail Inbox. I guess I am happily deprived of the (endless so it seems) opportunities to enlarge my penis or buy Viagra and other medication cheaply on line...
It's worth mentioning that rarely do I have real messages branded as spam - a surprisingly very rate occurrence.
 
* Space: Gmail was the first offering such a huge large space for mail messages - causing some users to treat it as on-line file storage. At the time, Hotmal was offering measly 2MB. Slowly but surely most web mail services have followed suit and offered increased space, but Google have promised to allow infinite storage. The space allotted keeps growing and it's more that 5G today -a and growing...
 
* Message Threads: It took me a while to get used to the automatic bundling of related messages (through forwards and replies) Gmail uses; but once I got used to that feature, it made so much sense to me. Instead of searching in folders for the original message sent - as people do tend to change original content upon forwards and replies, messages are all lumped into a single thread together and give a clear time line for the "development" of the original message; I would sure like to have such a feature at work where it makes even more sense on professional/work related emails.
 
Overall, I can't return to desktop based emails nor do I find other services to offer the many great features I find with Gmail. I still find Yahoo to have a cluttered interface despite their new (well, not so new anymore) Web 2.0 approach. I rarely use my Yahoo or Hotmail accounts and saves them usually for registration with sites I'm sure would increase the amount of junk I get.
 
It's worth giving Gmail a test; but be warned - It's addictive!

• 5+ GB free storage and counting
• Extremely fast with nice user interface
• Conversation-threading, message labels, keyboard shortcuts
• Outstanding spam filter
• Low-profile text ads that NEVER appear inside an e-mail message you send or receive
• Easy to get data in and out with free POP3, IMAP, and message forwarding

• Free with unlimited storage
• Moderately fast interface with some nice features such as drag-and-drop
• Text ads, but they show up inside the messages
• Excellent integration with other services such as Apple iPhone for push e-mail and JetBlue airplanes for in-flight e-mail and IM.