Windows Live Mail as an alternative.
Without wishing to be a turncoat to the WinMail faithfuls, for those who may want to consider WinLiveMail as as alternative email client, the following information might help. I was asked by Microsoft to review WinLiveMail, and these are the comments I sent to them.
There may be other comments members may wish to add to this post.
Or the Microsoft representative, Jeff Putt can be contacted at: jeffputt@microsoft.com
Or there is a feed-back option to Microsoft specifically for WinLiveMail via this link:
here
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inLiveMail is computer based in the sense that it uses the Windows Mail files already in Windows 7. However, you still have to download some files from Windows Live on the net to make it work. The "Windows Live" folder is stored in 32bit Program Files(x86). When I downloaded it, I chose only the "Mail" option, and ignored all the other Live programs. It basically works the same as WinMail, but has new positions for some of the buttons, added features, and a somewhat different view of the main window. You can disable any interactive options and just use it basically as a stand alone program, which is what I've done. I am running it concurrently with Wndows Mail and can choose either as default email client via "Set Default Programs".- The "Send Receive" button has been replaced with a "Sync" button. When this is pressed, it shows the same window for incoming/outgoing mail as Windows Mail.
- Every email account is shown individually in the left pane of the main window, with it's own set of folders for Inbox, Drafts, Sent Items, etc. So if you've got 3 or 4 email addresses you'll have 3 or 4 Accounts in the left panel, each with it's own folders.
- It also has a "Quick View" set of folders at the top of the left panel which shows a summary of all emails. And you can customize the Quick View to show which emails you want to see, such as Junk, Drafts, etc.
- Finally it has a set of "Storage Folders" in the left panel, under the Accounts. The folders include: Drafts, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Inbox, Junk Mail and Outbox.
- It has 45 color options for text, as opposed to 15 in WinMail.
- It has 70 Emoticons you can put into the text.
- The Menu bar is not shown by default, which is typical of all Windows 7 folders. You need to click an icon in the top right of the task bar and tick "Show Menu Bar".
- It has 3 buttons on the left above the main text: "Format'", "Photos" and "Layout". The photos button allows photos to be added. The Format & Layout buttons allow a photo to edited by rotating, changing size, adding a text box, auto correcting the image, changing the type of framing, etc.
- Images are added using: Menu --> Insert --> Image --> Inline. There is no button in the taskbar to insert images as in WinMail.
- In the left panel under the accounts, there are buttons which change the main window display to: Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Feeds and News Groups. As you click each one, the main window is changed, so you see the item mentioned; except for Contacts which are shown as a separate window.
- The format buttons are in a drop down menu rather than individual buttons on the task bar, which is more inconvenient. The drop down menus include bulleting, numbering; formatting alignment such as Left, Right, Justify; as well as Indents & Insert a straight line.
- When a contact in the Contacts folder is highlighted by hovering the mouse over it, it shows the option to send an email by single clicking this option.
- Naturally, the SPAM/Phishing filter works, including updates, and is the same basic lay-out as WinMail.
- When setting up accounts, once the user name, password, and display name is entered it auto fills the POP3 & SMTP protocol; and provides links to set up IMAP for Gmail, etc.
- Junk/SPAM email options are found under taskbar Tools --> Safety Options
- It boots up a lot quicker than WinMail and there is no splash screen to disable.
The main objection is the enforced display of all accounts, which makes the left panel very bulky if you have a lot of accounts. Mostly though, it's just a case of getting used to the new format, and postions of command buttons. I've been testing it for two weeks now, and overall it's quite good, and the extra features helpful. Drop down menus are a pain after individual buttons in the task bar, but it does tidy up the task bar.
The main adavantage I guess is having a fully operational application, which won't be borked by updates.
Hope this may help those who for whatever reason can't get Windows Mail to work.
Cheers PB
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