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Windows Live Hotmail
Price: Free

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Overall

Reviewed By: Wayne Williams

This review updated: 16/08/2007
Featured in magazine:
Issue 168
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: Microsoft
Web Address: www.hotmail.com


The oldest of the webmail services was recently given a makeover. It now offers 2GB of storage and a choice of interfaces. If you find the full version too slow there's a Classic option, and you can even revert back to the original MSN layout. Conversations can be sorted by date, or searched through. You can create new folders and set up filters to redirect incoming mail automatically. Messages can be sent and received from up to five alternative accounts, and you can apply a range of themes to the interface. Unfortunately, the overall design is ugly with obtrusive adverts all over the place.

Hotmail's approach to dealing with spam has improved over the years but it's still poor in comparison to Google and Yahoo's achievements. Repeatedly tagging the same messages as junk does little to stop them arriving in your Inbox and the standard spam filter is woefully ineffective.

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