A Quick Review of Windows Live Mail

I recently obtained a Hotmail email account. I never had a Hotmail account before, but I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I had never used Hotmail before, but due to a personal issue, I decided to create one. This review is mostly about the desktop email client, Windows Live Mail than the actual email service, Windows Live Hotmail, but I wanted to tell you why I randomly decided to install it.

I gave Windows Live Mail a try about a few months ago. It didn't work out for me, mostly because I used webmail all of the time. I tried Thunderbird, and I was convinced to keep using a desktop client as my email client. I decided to try Windows Live Mail again, and I like it. I find that the three pane column view, as opposed to the other view that was used in Thunderbird. I also like how it intergrates with other Windows Live services like Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Writer, and all of the Windows Live online stuff. I also prefer the Vista-ish look that appears in Windows Live Mail. It has been treated as an upgrade to Outlook Express (for Windows XP) and Windows Mail (for Windows Vista), and I agree with that. There are some downsides to it though.

My main problem with it is that it requires Windows Desktop search. I don't have any problem with that tool, but I already have Google Desktop. Two programs indexing my hard drive can really slow down slower computers like mine.

I recommend it if you like Windows Live and need a desktop email client, but if your happy if Thunderbird, or something else, then there is no reason to switch to this.