The end of Hotmail?

VoucherMan

Saw a few articles yesterday & wondered if anyone here has a better idea of how they're going to do it.

More importantly, will we be able to keep using the old Hotmail/Live addresses.

I haven't used Hotmail directly for a while now but I import everything to my Gmail account. I still use my @live address as my main contact so it's going to be a pain if I have to register a new address with them all.

googler

Did you read to the last two paras of the BBC story?

"While it advises users to upgrade, Hotmail subscribers can stick with the old system if they wish - at least for now.

Those who do make the change keep their @hotmail, @msn or @live.com email address ending, but can also add an @outlook.com address to their account if they wish."

John_Gray

The aim seems to be largely rebranding. OUTLOOK is known and (largely) respected in the business world, whereas Hotmail is thought of as a fairly insecure and not very wonderful program. So give Hotmail a somewhat different interface, add other domain for email addresses, and give it the name of something with a good reputation! What's to lose?

macman

And of course create even more confusion to many users between Outlook, Outlook Express and now outlook.com.

VoucherMan

googler wrote: »

Did you read to the last two paras of the BBC story

Whoops no! Just had a brief glance at it before I went to work.
I see they haven't improved the registration process though. I thought I'd get myself a new outlook.com address. You still have to fill in the whole form before it informs you that the address is not available.

walesrob

John_Gray wrote: »

The aim seems to be largely rebranding. OUTLOOK is known and (largely) respected in the business world, whereas Hotmail is thought of as a fairly insecure and not very wonderful program. So give Hotmail a somewhat different interface, add other domain for email addresses, and give it the name of something with a good reputation! What's to lose?

Microsoft seem to be saying they are trying to compete with Gmail, but we all know Hotmail has a long way to go. For example, IMAP access? CalDav access for Thunderbird? These two omissions alone convince me that Outlook.com is just a re-branding exercise, but underneath its the same old Hotmail. Gmail are still the winner here by a long way in terms of functionality and multi-platform accessibility, whereas Microsoft compel you to use their own proprietary software and outdated protocols.

NeverAgain_2

walesrob wrote: »

Microsoft seem to be saying they are trying to compete with Gmail, but we all know Hotmail has a long way to go. For example, IMAP access? CalDav access for Thunderbird? These two omissions alone convince me that Outlook.com is just a re-branding exercise, but underneath its the same old Hotmail. Gmail are still the winner here by a long way in terms of functionality and multi-platform accessibility, whereas Microsoft compel you to use their own proprietary software and outdated protocols.

I - and probably many others - use hotmail just to send and receive emails, so any additional 'functionality' is lost on me.

Hotmail - with an adblocker - is cleaner and neater than gmail, which I think is too 'cartoony'.

HoofeHearted

Another article here.

ioscorpio

So, should you get an alias, rename or get a new account? What are the advantages of each?

Money_Grabber13579

John_Gray wrote: »

The aim seems to be largely rebranding. OUTLOOK is known and (largely) respected in the business world, whereas Hotmail is thought of as a fairly insecure and not very wonderful program. So give Hotmail a somewhat different interface, add other domain for email addresses, and give it the name of something with a good reputation! What's to lose?

You mean apart from the fact that if you give something with a bad reputation, the name of something with a good reputation, it's more likely to cause the whole thing to have a bad reputation?!:p

jayme1

Outlook is as good as Gmail now (hotmail was pretty much already there) in the past Gmails interface and spam detection beat hotmail hands down but now Outlook/hotmails spam detection is as good as Gmails and after Gmails last interface update I would say Outlook is now better, the fact it shows more of the email (gmail's archive bar used to slide up as you scrolled down an email) while also showing the email list, also Outlook is much easier on the eye.
The only negative point I can find with Outlook is you can't add pictures to contacts.

ioscorpio wrote: »

So, should you get an alias, rename or get a new account? What are the advantages of each?

up to you, I renamed my account to a new outlook email as I could get the name I wanted, my previous email address was automatically set up as an alias.
if you create an entirely new account you will then have 2 email addresses and have to log into each separately to get your email.

but you don't have to choose a new email at all, you can use your old email with the new interface.
IMO either renaming, a new alias or just migrating to the new interface is best.