BBC News Online: Sci/Tech

Your verdict on Hotmail's revamp

New homepage offers MSN services

This is what you said about the revamp of one of the world's most popular web-based e-mail services.

Want to tell us what do you think of the new Hotmail?

The new Hotmail format is much better but it would take some time to get totally used to.
Suryaprakash, India

It's good, though the right bar is too wide. Maybe if they reduce that, there will be more room for "email" rather than services.
Carl, USA

The design is better, but too much blue makes it harder to guess what is 'what'- some different colours would do some help. They should improve the quality of the Messenger, which do not always work properly. Then I agree with others about the junk-mail - we know that it keeps the business free for us, but we would like to have it less.
Mark van den Bose, Holland

Excellent! I have the benefit or ADSL so speed issues no longer concern me. Visually it is very good and usability, I feel, is improved - so double thumbs up from me!
Ben Davies, UK

Navy background is horrible! Why can't we choose different colours for that?
Duncan, UK

Though the look is glossy, too much information clouds the purpose.
Ravi Teja Seethamraju, USA(India)

It's very cluttered now and runs very slowly. Still getting vast amounts of spam despite the inbox protector.
Graham, UK

The new Hotmail is definitely better than the old version. Although the old version was easy to use, it was pretty dated. MSN have done a good job of updating Hotmail, to seem modern but still work with the same effectiveness as the older version.
Martin, UK

The new layout looks great. It's a little easier on the eye and quicker to navigate. Gives it a bit more class. However, I've spoken to people with smaller monitors and they say it's hard to read.
Robin Whitwham, UK

One major drawback (as compared to Yahoo Mail) was the inability to file a message in a folder from the message window. You had to go back to the list of messages window to move it to a folder of choice. This has been fixed.
Anand, India

Only problem I have is that the mail is almost too small to read on my laptop. Maybe I can change some settings.
Paul, USA

They didn't leave a way to check how much mail is in the account, to keep it under the max total. They also reversed from oldest on top to newest on top, which isn't much incentive to get the oldest out of the inbox, and it's going to make taking down files by the page hard to match up with what I've already got. AND they did it with no warning!
Lynn, USA

The format is definitely better from a design perspective. The fact that I get reams of junk mail in my Hotmail account annoys me and this new "inbox protector" of theirs has made no difference at all in controlling it. For this reason I have decided to discontinue using Hotmail. What is it about Hotmail and junk mail? I haven't given out my address in 2 years and yet I still get reams of offensive junk mail.
Michael Zellhorn, UK

What's new? We've had the blues for years with Microsoft!
Lionel Scales, Wales

Very nice - it looks a lot more classy and is easier to use!
Caroline Taborn, UK

When I logged on to Hotmail, I did not expect this new type of design. I had to think for several seconds how to proceed. Anyway I found the new features are more interesting. I'd still like a new feature from Hotmail that would let the user select the background colour.
Gabriel Nimal, UK

I think that the new look Hotmail is much better than the previous. Well done!
Jenny, United Kingdom

I like the new interface. It is much clearer, and easier to use. My only quibble is the difficulty I have had in finding the settings for name, address etc. I can't find them!
Adam Skelton, UK

This has to be the worst e-mail address server. All that comes through to your mail is perverted spam and junk, no matter how much you filter/block they still manage to get through. My advice is sign up with Yahoo - much better and a lot faster as well.
Joanna Riddell, England

The new look Hotmail certainly is aesthetically pleasing, and is easier to find your way around it to boot. It remains to be seen, however, whether or not it's advanced spam protection will stop the invitations to visit porn sites that hotmail was previously plagued by. If it works it's a dream come true. Now can Microsoft make MSN messenger a little bit more reliable?
Tony Moss, UK

About 10 times slower than usual. Haven't yet noticed a material decrease in the amount of spam.
Dean Collins, UK

I was disappointed, but not at all surprised, to see the most conspicuous step yet towards Hotmail's Microsoftening. As other firms and services that Microsoft has absorbed, Hotmail is being harvested for its large user base, which Microsoft can cast its net over to pull users towards an increased dependency on its own software, products and services. There are many other web-based e-mail services which are more than happy to provide free e-mail access service, and without all the strings attached.
Edward Lee, Canada

The page is very good and pleasant. Font size being low, it doesn't need scrolling too often.
Arvindh, US

The new intermediate page between logging on and my inbox is unnecessary. I don't need to see their ads and other services, I want to check my mail. That aside some of the other little add ons are quite good.
Tim, UK

Hotmail is doing a lot to bring people more closer day by day.
Engr. Burhan, Pakistan

Looks very nice. Much more sexy than the old screen. Will be glad if the spamming protection is up to what they say it is - but I won't hold my breath! I don't like the fact that it doesn't go straight to my inbox, but I can see it as a good step from a business perspective!
Tim Linsell, England

The announcement of the change should have come before the change was implemented. Why was there no e-mail to each user? Hotmail frequently sends e-mails to users with news of far less importance.

Elderly people using Hotmail have been left struggling to access their e-mail. My 79-year-old father had to be helped by a computer savvy friend to get to his e-mail, and my 80-year-old mother-in-law will be shut out of her e-mail until this coming weekend when my wife will try to talk her through the new system. In a phone call last night she said that she had spent all day trying to make it work so that she could read her e-mail.

Instead of making their clients more comfortable Hotmail has done a great job alienating a sizable user group.
Hugh Colton, USA

When I logged into it at work, I was annoyed at the fact that I have to look at all their MSN junk. It was so much better before Microsoft bought Hotmail. Also, my mother complains that she can't read the font and there is no way to change the font size because of how they set it up All in all, I wish that Hotmail would allow us to keep the old set up if we so desired.
Mike, USA

Yet another needless "facelift". I think Microsoft should invest more effort in blocking spam, much of it, despite warnings and promises, originates from MSN.com users!
Tristram, UK

Its got bells and whistles but essentially anything new doesn't make a difference.
Chris LeBaron, UK

Much better than the old one. Nice surprise on Wednesday.
Rob, UK

The changes are a burden for persons on slow computers at internet cafes here in Thailand because they must download an extra screen in order to reach their in-box. This requires several more minutes of internet time.
Greg Irving, Thailand

Much easier interface, far more intuitive. Few technical glitches still but no major problems. A long overdue, and well implemented upgrade. Like the extra formatting options too, all good.
Dave, UK

Well the site looks a little better, and probably presents information content better. The only thing is it's only been rebranded to redirect traffic and business back to the MSN family of sites. Also the site still doesn't give adequate space to some of the hidden terms behind Hotmail, for example do many people realise that anything they send over Hotmail automatically becomes Microsoft property? That even includes intellectual property such as programs, or a book you wrote.
Miles Cheverton, UK

Looks very pretty, but I preferred it when logging in took you straight to your inbox.
Ben, UK

Good looking and much more functional.I really enjoy the new look and functions. It keeps the user happy.
Bogdan Popescu, Romania

I believe the upgrade is sensational and I wonder at the ease with which I now use my e-mail account. I find the loading of pages also to have improved. WELL DONE MICROSOFT!!
Amit Sona, India

I Have several e-mail addresses,one of which is a Hotmail address although the one I used mainly was a different address.I was very impressed with the changes and the appearance leading me to forward all e-mail from all other accounts to the Hotmail address. I give it a huge 10 out of 10. It gets my thumbs up.
Anish Patel, United Kingdom

All has been for good. Very nice changes. On the negative side, the speed at which the pages load might become lower. I remember that just too many people in India have stopped using Hotmail since the page takes longer to load than the time it takes poor modem to disconnect because of phone line noise.
Alok Govil, USA

Looks good. Why do people get narky about a free service promoting related services even if they are paid. There are plenty of other portals out there such as as Vizzavi, Yahoo etc. Overall looks smart.
Michael Blain, Cairns, Australia

No improvement at all from the system aspect, you still only have 2mb quota. They just changed the interface to get people impressed!
Robert, England

Too fussy, too slow and obviously not tested properly. I have found two bugs already.
Peter Crabb-Wyke, UK

I just wish they'd stop the obscene junk mail. Once they've sorted this out they can start fiddling with the superficial aesthetics.
Richard G, UK

Here's the bottom line: Hotmail - slow to load, unreliable and a puny 2MB storage limit. Yahoo - fast loading, very reliable, and 6MB storage for those who find the word "delete" to be offensive.
Ian, UK

Looks good but still slow.I want a scroller system for reading the mail. Also it is ultra slow to send it out or use the spell check.
Hari, Turkey

The new set up is too cluttered it is difficult to navigate especially to old e-mails and saved messages. The site takes too long to load and makes using it a chore.
Andy, England

The new page layout is very unappealing - merely an advertisement for MSN products and services, with the inbox tucked away under a fat tab. Aesthetically lacking, virtually displeasing. A clear regression of design.
Ruju Jasani, USA

Much better looking and the formatting page for new e-mails seems to load faster. However, like many other users, I am also on the point of giving up on Hotmail due to now receiving on average about 15 junk e-mails to my inbox per day, this with the bulk mail filter and never registering my e-mail address on any web pages. Most of this junk is very offensive and ruins my day. Does anyone know of another web-based e-mail service which seems less plagued by this rubbish?
Kate Turner, UK

Sure looks pretty but had to think to get by at first sight. The old one was straight forward.
Palisa, Zambia

The new design at first had me thinking I had a virus, but on working through I have become positive and warmed to it. Of course the new design is simply the colours feel of the New Windows XP.
Jason Christie, Sweden

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