I have had an account with Hotmail for about 2 years now and find it a poor service due to the huge amounts of crap I receive! However, I have recently tried out lycos as a comparsion and have come to realise whatever hotmails disadvantages may be they are still the best!
To join hotmail and get an account all you have to do is register which is very simple and choose an e-mail addres (the only problem may be finding one that isnt already taken, but they suggest atlernatives - try putting _ between your name eg emma_hancock or add numbers after your name). You now are ready to use your account all over the world. You can have more than one of you like, I have just set up another one for my ’junk’ mail, just have to use another e-mail address. It is free to use and join which is good and sends e-mails to other hotmail users instantly which is helpful if you’re in a rush.
You can block senders in your hotmail account to stop people sending you the same rubbish over and over again(250 maximum though). You can also use your bulk mail account, this allows the junk you receive to not clutter up your inbox. It isnt brillant but a vast improvement on getting all the rubbish into your inbox. This is a unique advantage to hotmail I think, I am not aware of the other e-mail accounts doing it yet and is very helpful. You will find it very easy to use and you can link it to msn messanger if you like, which allows you to instant message other hotmail users when they are online.
However, it has many disadvantages as well. The main one if how slow it is, often it simply wont let you load it at all, which can be very annoying! When it will let you it can be extremely slow to use. Secondly the junk mail you receive is irritating especially if your block sender and bulk mail dont seem to work! However if you persist these should eventually work, or set up another account for junk like I have.
When I first wrote the opinion I found hotmail annoying due to all the crap you get sent, however now my inbox protector is beginning to work and I am receiving less rubbish. I tried lycos for some time but was not impressed! It is no where near as easy to use and much slower (beleive it or not!). Therefore I had to rewrite this opinion, stick with hotmail it is the best!