61 replies to this topic 3 votes

[Stokkolm]

Ever since Google changed their privacy policy, I've been thinking about moving to Microsoft's online offerings. I tried switching to Hotmail for a week and I must say, it hasn't been a good experience. Not that Hotmail is bad, but it's kinda like when I tried Android after having an iPhone for over a year, it's just not as good. Here's a short list of the main problems I have with Hotmail compared to Gmail:

Recieving Email from another Account
I've had my gmail account for several years and I'm currently using 56% of the storage space allotted. I setup Hotmail to pull in my emails from Google and at first it was going fine, but after an hour or so, it stopped pulling in additional ones. It may have pulled in about 1/10th of the total emails in my gmail account. Not only that, but new emails that come into my gmail inbox aren't being propogated in Hotmail at all.

User Interface
Hotmail feels like a work in progress rather than a complete email offering. They are trying to make Hotmail feel like Outlook and I think that's my biggest issue with it. Outlook's interface works fine for a desktop email program, but it doesn't translate so well to Hotmail's web interface. There are so many options above the email pane that could be combined into a drop down menu, such as Reply, Reply All, Forward, etc...

While sending an email isn't too bad, replying to an email is horrid compared to the experience on Gmail. Where Gmail has a reply box ready and waiting for you under the message, Hotmail makes you click Reply and then loads an entirely new page for you to type your reply in to. This may be a bit anal, but it's about the experience and the experience isn't as good.

Gmail has beautiful themes, I especially like the Mountain theme. Hotmail has very cheesy themes that seem like they added them only because they "had to".

I do like the ability to right click on my Junk folder and empty it without having to actually open the junk folder first, same goes for the Trash folder.

Conclusion
While most of the issues I have with Hotmail are minor, they are severe enough, to me at least, to stick with Gmail for the time being. I really wish Hotmail was as polished as Gmail, because I would really prefer using it, but sadly it is not. I will, however, continue to monitor the progress of the Hotmail experience and maybe someday in the future I will make the switch for good!

[Simon-]

You are not supposed to take Neowin's front page trolling literally.

[Stokkolm]

Actually, it had nothing to do with Neowin's front page post. I've been feeling this way about Google for quite some time.

[Boeing 787]

Don't worry Google is in the process of destroying Gmail with new look that will have you running to Hotmail.

[threetonesun]

If you want a nice UI for your e-mail account, iCloud is pretty good.

[ybrett23]

Boeing 787, on 22 February 2012 - 12:46, said:

Don't worry Google is in the process of destroying Gmail with new look that will have you running to Hotmail.

i have to agree with the way gmail is looking nowadays,
but that saying , i dont think i would ever go back to hotmail, to me it just doesn't seem professional to have a @hotmail email address.
but thats just my opinion

[jakem1]

With the exception of the trouble you had copying your emails none of your problems seem insurmountable. I'm sure you'd get used to Hotmail's UI if you gave it a try.

[InsaneNutter]

Hotmail is miles ahead of Gmail in the user interface department in my opinion. I find Gmail to be annoying and nothing where i would expect to find it. Hotmail just works for me.

As a Windows Live Messenger User i like how i can use that directly from my inbox. I know you can use Google Talk from your Gmail inbox, however no one i know uses that, everyone is on Windows Live.

I guess its what ever works best for you, Ive had Hotmail since 1999 and found no reason to switch. Nice webmail interface, works perfectly with a desktop email client and push email works great.

[oceanmotion]

ybrett23, on 22 February 2012 - 12:50, said:

i have to agree with the way gmail is looking nowadays,
but that saying , i dont think i would ever go back to hotmail, to me it just doesn't seem professional to have a @hotmail email address.
but thats just my opinion

I've never understood this. @hotmail @live @yahoo is no more professional or unprofessional than @gmail. Sure, the name before might come into play but as long as that is sensible and not offensive people shouldn't worry about it. Do you think people years ago before gmail got laughed at for using hotmail and yahoo and impacted their job prospects or even now. Of course not. Yes, Gmail pushed things forward and was somewhat cooler at the start but it's just like the rest now.

@OP

Fair comments. I would like themes for Hotmail similar to the full page Gmail ones or at least allow more customisation.

Don't see much of an issue with the reply email part though. Full page seems better than two seperate parts when writing and replying to the original email.

Have you tried pulling your content down to something like Thunderbird or another client to see if it's just a hotmail issue. 56% of storage space is quite a lot. Something like that will take time and I imagine it won't get the new stuff until it's finished.

I quite like the Hotmail UI. Yeah, work in progress but it seems quite fucntional and clear, Text options make it straightforward and quicker for people rather than more drop downs hiding stuff you use regularly. Not cluttered.

[Rudy]

I use Hotmail because I've had my account since 1997....I would rather use gmail (mostly for IMAP) but it's too complicated to switch now

[+Vice]

My problem with Microsoft recently is that they put too much emphasis on integrating the interface to the underlining code base.

Any other company like Google builds the underpinnings of a product separate to the user interface. They provide frameworks so that any interface can seamlessly sit atop a strong foundation. So over the years they can make things look better and do radical interface changes without sacrificing a single feature.

Microsoft however seems to go "ok we need a new interface, better recode the whole entire thing" and then you constantly get products that feel unfinished that lack tons of functions that the previous version had. Like hotmail.

[TRC]

I'm still using Yahoo Mail myself.

[Shaun]

Rudy, on 22 February 2012 - 13:31, said:

I use Hotmail because I've had my account since 1997....I would rather use gmail (mostly for IMAP) but it's too complicated to switch now

Go into Gmail settings and there is an option to import mail and contacts from another account.

[nik louch]

I'm someone who switched the other way: Hotmail -> Gmail

Bear in mind I had used Hotmail since like 1998... I much prefer gMail. Easier to find mails, better interface, quicker, better integration.

[Stokkolm]

jakem1, on 22 February 2012 - 12:59, said:

With the exception of the trouble you had copying your emails none of your problems seem insurmountable. I'm sure you'd get used to Hotmail's UI if you gave it a try.

You're correct, they aren't insurmountable, but when you're used to doing things a certain way, I guess it's just hard to get used to not having the convenience you're used to. Gmail's UI is miles ahead of Hotmails.