hotmail "upgraded" to new Outlook - how to change it

demystified

I believe Micro$oft are "upgrading" the perfectly serviceable and useable Hotmail to the new and perfectly hideous Outlook - I hate it.

Can anyone recommend an alternate hotmail-like email that doesn't look like Outlook?

(and please, no value judgments on why I dislike it, or I should just like it and lump it, just tell me available alternatives, if any. Thanks a bunch.)

System

you'll get used it - I hated it at first too but there are a couple of decent improvements, seems a bit extreme to get a new email service/address etc just because you don't like something at first

**this isn't a value judgment, all I'm saying is that the changes they have made can be dealt with and if you switch you will have to learn a new system anyway - also you will have to alert every one of your contacts that you are changing your email address (more hassle than it's worth imo)

MS1950

demystified wrote: »

I believe Micro$oft are "upgrading" the perfectly serviceable and useable Hotmail to the new and perfectly hideous Outlook - I hate it.

Can anyone recommend an alternate hotmail-like email that doesn't look like Outlook?

(and please, no value judgments on why I dislike it, or I should just like it and lump it, just tell me available alternatives, if any. Thanks a bunch.)

You might find the 'Live Mail' (email client) included in Windows Essentials 2012 more to your liking (I prefer it to the online new Outlook .com) you'll need to download & install it (when you start the install you can choose to only install Live Mail without the other bits of Windows Essentials). It looks like the old Outlook email client that used to be bundled with windows:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/search#q=Windows+Essentials+2012

Ant555

an anyone recommend an alternate hotmail-like email that doesn't look like Outlook

I guess you mean web based mail that you can access via the web?
All of the options below give you email accessible on any web browser.
All are 'similar' features and the look and feel is very much subjective.
All will send and receive messages and attachments.
Some have apps for iPhone/Android/Windows phone but I don't know if thats a requirement.
All are free so you can sign up and try them for yourself.
You may be lucky and get your username on zoho or gmx but its unlikely you will get a decent username on Gmail or Yahoo

Google Mail
Yahoo Mail
Zoho Mail
GMX Mail

Ive had accounts with all of these over the years - I have an opinion on each one but I think you were just interested in alternatives -->

and please, no value judgments on why I dislike it, or I should just like it and lump it, just tell me available alternatives

I don;t know if you need 'storage' - if you have been a hotmail/skydrive user for a long time then you possibly have 25Gb free storage, if a recent user then that is 7Gb - or you may be using an alternative anyway (dropbox?)

Hope this helps.

Lancastrian

I could not stand the new Outlook either. Not a smooth format and kunky when sending mail.

I downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird and am happy now.

Very easy to use and converts easily, picking up your current Email address.

Recommended.

Ant555

I downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird and am happy now.

Thats great - Assuming you are still using your hotmail address with Thunderbird then just because you have stopped using the web interface to access your email doesn't mean that Microsoft will turn it off so you have the added ability to still go onto the web whenever you like.

For instance, if your PC is out of action you could still use a friend or relatives PC to access all your email on the web as before (even though you don't like the interface) - the choice is yours.

Have a great weekend.

Lancastrian

I brought his over from another thread.

"I'm still with Hotmail and on my very old account.

Thunderbird works well and is similar to the old windows format but better.

If I log on with a non Thunderbird computer I have to use Outlook but it does mean I can stay in touch from anywhere in the world.

I have used some of the embedded options to make it to my taste."

Mary_Hartnell

The very first web mail was "rocket mail"; it is now a sub set of yahoo.
When I needed a new email for business purposes, I was able to get a rocket mail address with exactly the name I wanted. None of this "Mary1907zy@overloaded.co.uk" sort of rubbish.