MS, I want an email client included in Win 7.

[RANT]In spite of all the wonderful new features in Windows 7, the decision to exclude an email client has to be the most assenine ever. Because of this, I have gone back to Vista for now. If I wanted a third party email program, I would have done it already. If I wanted to use web based email, I would have switched years ago.

I did try the Windows Mail from Vista hack in seven and even though it let me send and receive emails it was not 100% functional. Besides, I should not have to hack a new OS to get feature that has been included in every version prior to this one.

I purchased four copies of Windows 7, installed on three computers, removed from 2, the remaining computer has office 2007 so seven will stay on it. I just hope this gets fixed in first service pack, if not this could be the end of the road for me and MS. Yes, it is that big of a deal breaker to me.[End RANT]

You can download the new Windows Live Mail very easily.

http://download.live.com/

You can choose as many of the essential programs as you desire.

Windows Live Mail is working great on my Windows 7 machine. By not including the Windows Live Essentials programs, Microsoft can update them more frequently. So you won't get a scenario like IE6 and XP.

Hello Pat,

This not being included in Windows 7 is due to all those antitrust lawsuits. The only option Microsoft had was to allow for 3rd party installatons only. Luckily you can install Windows Live Mail for free. This is what would have been included in Windows 7 by default if it were not for the antitrust issues.

Of course, you can use any other email client (ex: Thunderbird, Opera, etc...) you would like instead as well.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I know about the deal with the EU, the last time I checked the USA was not a part of the EU although it looks more and more like that is where we are headed. If you look closely in Windows 7 you will see that it was WINDOWS MAIL not Windows Live Mail that was disabled so that argument is not valid.

Sorry, but I'm afraid that is incorrect.

Windows Mail (WinMail.exe) was not disabled, but just not included in Windows 7. Windows Mail was never planned to be included in Windows 7. You only see the Windows Mail folder still included in the Program Files folder for backwards compatibility for the Contacts (wab.exe) feature to make it easy to import Vista contacts into other email client programs. It was always meant for Windows Live Mail (preferred), or other 3rd party email client, to be used in Windows 7.

Plus, we did have our own share of antitrust issues here in the USA that Microsoft didn't want to risk rising up again like the way it was IE8 and the EU.

If you use Office at work, check with your benefits department to see if you have the "Home Use" program. I was able to purchase Office 2007 for $10 for home through this program, but yeah Windows Live Mail is great and free.