Microsoft has had Windows Live Mail in beta now for a while, but after hearing a friend was still using Outlook Express I thought a quick post would be in order to let people know that there is something better!

Outlook Express has been out since Windows 98 and during its life has had holes found and holes plugged, unfortunately more holes have been found than have been plugged and the way it was integrated into the OS and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer didn’t help it.

However an alternative and much improved mail application from Microsoft is available. Microsoft launched an e-mail client to supercede Outlook Express in the form of Windows Mail (which came with Vista) and Windows Live Mail is the upgraded version of that which is available to all.

The Windows Live Mail beta can be found at ideas.live.com and I don’t think it is restricted so anyone can get it and it can be used with any POP3 or IMAP email account.

Because this is a beta you shouldn’t expect it not to have a few gremlins and because it is a Microsoft product you can’t expect it to be without a few gremlins. But on the whole, this is a very mature beta and, well, anything is better than Outlook Express…