Let’s face it’s Hotmail has not the best reputation as a web service right? Now why do people use it ?
Well first of all Hotmail was one of the very first free email provider in the early days of the Internet... people dont wanna change their email address , and that’s a point easily understandable right ?
Now I am using a Hotmail address. I was a Yahoo user for like three years before. Quite franckly I find Yahoo the best free email provider. But here is why I switched.
First of all, I often use Microsoft products. Should it be Money, Encarta or Picture it!, all of these software will extend their functions thru MSN Services. For example you can modify the photo you placed in MSN Photo with Picture it! Many other software use MSn features as a web extension to Microsoft. And that’s basically the role of MSn..
Now the real motive of my change was MSN 8 (see my review on MSN8)Though it is a paid service, MSN 8 turn your Hotmail account into a most powerful service. Junk Filtering , Smart anti-spam, anti-virus....you got a booted Hotmail accountof 10 MB... MSN 8 email client is based on Outlook Express but feel much sleaker and agreable to use
As far as spam is concerned, I am not so much a victim... Maybe an average of a spam a day...But Microsoft ’s new technology integrated in MSN 8 reassures me... anyway I did receive spam with Yahoo but I hardly saw them for they were directed to the Trash box...No real difference so...
Therefore it is my opinion that a Hotmail account is to be used by Microsoft user. I mean , should it be Yahoo or MSN...we’re talking about BRANDS. Yahoo has many good services. If you have a Yahoo account you will surf Yahoo (Messenger, news, My Yahoo, Photos...) MSN has good services too and since I use MS products it is more convenient for me....
After all, it’s just an email...just have a look at what’s around.
Ok MS ’s policy is harsh towards their competitors... but when you see the messenger integrated in XP, the MSN WebDocument preset as your network in XP and all that.... who can compete?
Instead of looking for a download manager + a Mail client + a calendar client + a sidebar + a quick browser+ .... why not choosing MSN 8 for example?
I’m more likely to try something else only if it can give me all I need
A hotmail account opens all lot of doors not to be forgotten