# Dear Hotmail: have you decided on an outfit yet? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072 "2002-09-12T03:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/1 "2002-09-12T03:00:07Z")
Jesus Christ on a crouton, make up your mind(s). I say “mind” because I believe it’s a Borg Collective. I never know what GUI to expect when I check into Hotmail. Crap, you suck. You want me to pay more for 2 Kb messages? Fuck you. Bill Gates wipes his ass with the cash I spent for his crappy OS. So stop fucking warning me that I’m at 56% of my storage space. Like Micro$oft can’t afford it. OK, it’s free, but come on. Fuck off. You’ve already deleted spam-free emails from friends and family. I’m not anti-Microsoft, and I’m definitely not a Mac person (though surprise, surprise, iDisk users will now be charged), but come on. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/2 "2002-09-12T03:51:49Z")
I use Outlook Express to check my Hotmail. It checks faster, the interface never changes, and you can move e-mails from your inbox/send box to a local folder quickly and easily. Not really an option if you are on a public computer, I know… ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/3 "2002-09-12T04:06:53Z")
I can’t even log in to hotmail any more. I’ve really had it this time. I give up. I spit in hotmail’s general direction. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/4 "2002-09-12T04:08:47Z")
What I don’t like is that they count their own spam towards your storage space limit. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/5 "2002-09-12T04:16:09Z")
What I don’t like is that they count their own spam towards your storage space limit. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/6 "2002-09-12T07:37:02Z")
What’s pissing me off is that half the time, I type in “[www.hotmail.com](http://www.hotmail.com)” and I go to… [www.hotmail.com](http://www.hotmail.com) (gasp!). The other half the time, I get redirected to their .Net Passport login page. I can’t make out ANY rhyme or reason as to this seemingly random choice of redirection. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind as long as they’d pick one and STICK WITH IT. Whenever I type in logins and passwords, a lot of it is sense memory. On the Hotmail screen, I just need to type in “JMSPOOFE”, and then my password, and then I login. At the .Net Passport login, I need to type “[JMSPOOFE@Hotmail.com](mailto:JMSPOOFE@Hotmail.com)”, and then the password. Is Microsoft just trying to keep their users on their toes? Is there any reason for this arbitrary login screen? Frankly, I don’t give a damn which one they ultimately decide on, as long as they’d STICK WITH IT. Why the fuck do they need to change anything? The interface was just fine the way it was, because I - and probably thousands of other users - were accustomed to it! Anybody have any idea how I can make it load up fucking [Hotmail.com](http://Hotmail.com) instead of the stupid Passport signin screen? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/7 "2002-09-12T07:49:53Z")
Scott, you might try yahoo or netscape email. While the service is roughly as shitty, at least both give you more storage space (6 mg and 5 mg respectively). I’ve been using netscape email for a few years now and it’s not that bad for free, web-based email. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/8 "2002-09-12T07:55:21Z")
I have one Yahoo! and one Hotmail account. I have as much spam on both (that is, about one piece a month) and have had no problems logging in to either account. Yahoo! has the slight edge at the moment in terms of storage space and apparent attitude (Microsoft seems to be restricting Hotmail more and more) _but_ both seem to be angling for paid accounts only eventually. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/9 "2002-09-12T10:21:26Z")
**Crusoe** – Just to confirm: You’re saying the Yahoo e-mail address in your profile (for this board) gets only one piece of Spam a month ? ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/10 "2002-09-12T10:26:53Z")
Nitpick-- .mac (formerly iTools) users, and not just iDisk users, are now being charged for services (~$50). You get a lot more than an email account, tho. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/11 "2002-09-12T10:39:57Z")
I got a mail a couple of years ago from “Hotmail Customer Service” saying words to the effect of: " **Hotmail listens to its customers!** So many of you requested to go straight to the inbox after you’ve logged in, that that’s just what we did!" Clearly they’ve gone deaf. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/12 "2002-09-12T10:55:08Z")
I’m with Dr.Lao. I use Outlook Express to access my Hotmail account. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/13 "2002-09-12T11:08:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\ ***Crusoe** – Just to confirm: You’re saying the Yahoo e-mail address in your profile (for this board) gets only one piece of Spam a month ? \*\* Well, nearer one every two months. My Hotmail gets about one a month (always that “get ripped!” steroid-style rubbish) and my Yahoo! only gets stuff from some IT training place that must’ve got my address from registering on IT websites). I’m quite lucky really. ---
**Author:** ![Snugglebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snugglebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snugglebear)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/14 "2002-09-12T11:27:29Z")
Yeah I’m with Dr. Lao and sailor, I too use Outlook. And I hardly ever get spam unless it’s from MS. 🙂 My first e-mail addy was with [angelfire.com](http://angelfire.com). Ya know, and I promise, I never have recieved spam with angelfire. But I decided to get a hotmail address so I could use Outlook. No problems so far. But I have to agree with Spoofe, before I started using Outlook I would pull my hair out over the irratic log ins with hotmail. It was even worse when I used MSN and needed to sign into my hotmail account. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/15 "2002-09-12T11:36:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > Well, nearer one every two months. My Hotmail gets about one a month (always that “get ripped!” steroid-style rubbish) and my Yahoo! only gets stuff from some IT training place that must’ve got my address from registering on IT websites). I’m quite lucky really. Okay, thanks. Obviously, given our physique’s neither of us need the ‘get-ripped’ mails _\_ but at least they make more sense than the recent spate of breast enhancement stuff I’ve been getting – unless there’s something nobody’s told me… ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/16 "2002-09-12T11:37:12Z")
A FOAF of mine who is “in the know” at MS says people are getting the semi-random interfaces because they are having some serious server/bandwidth problems, and that this should clear itself up before too long. I personally have no problems with the spam, pop-ups, etc., because I know I am getting an absolutely free and overall highly reliable mail service. I don’t know about you young whippersnappers, but we old-timers can remember when people would pay $20 a month for just a personal BBS-run e-mail account (no web or NEWS access), and still would get unsolicited mails. Soon though, I will be changing mails, as I am going to start my own mail service with accounts for friends who wish them, but there will be a cost (I’m thinking $10 a month for 1GB of mail space, but that may be too much…) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/17 "2002-09-12T11:41:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\* > Okay, thanks. Obviously, given our physique’s neither of us need the ‘get-ripped’ mails _\_ but at least they make more sense than the recent spate of breast enhancement stuff I’ve been getting – unless there’s something nobody’s told me… \*\* Yes, it could get confusing. Loans so big they hurt? That can’t be right. Seriously, I’m amazed at how smooth my Hotmail experience has been. I had one address for around four years but got more junk mail than genuine (but I had been careless, leaving it on Usenet posts etc). The last one has been in use for around two years with only that ‘ripped’ rubbish, and only around one every month. I’ve only had trouble logging in maybe once or twice (during high-profile hardware failures at Hotmail) and have no real complaints other than the irritating diversion to the welcome screen rather than the inbox. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/18 "2002-09-12T11:42:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*Soon though, I will be changing mails, as I am going to start my own mail service with accounts for friends who wish them, but there will be a cost (I’m thinking $10 a month for 1GB of mail space, but that may be too much…) \*\* 1Gb is a huge amount of space - how much do comparable webmail accounts charge for similar amounts? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/19 "2002-09-12T12:23:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > \*\* > 1Gb is a huge amount of space - how much do comparable webmail accounts charge for similar amounts? \*\* In truth, I’ve not seen a mail account with more than 50MB of space. But I was hoping to “stand out”. Perhaps 100 MB would be more reasonable, at $5 a month. I have to buy a new machine, and upgrade my digital service, so there are some capital and operating costs involved. I figure a 1st-year capital cost of $2000, and an O&M cost of $2000 a year. To reach “break-even” by EOY 2, I would therefore need $6000 of income. I would set up a not-for-profit corporation (since my intent is not to make any profit, but to break-even), and hopefully the tax burden would be low. Say I need $8000 over two years as a contingency. At $4000 a year, I need $333.33 per month. That could be 34 $10 accounts, or 68 $5 accounts. Note that none of this uncludes person-time…but this is waaaay off topic here. (I hope this is OK to post - this is not an advertisement, since the service would **not** be offered to the public, but instead would be by invitation only. Plus it’s all still a pipe-dream at this moment anyhow…none of which addresses why Hotmail seems messed up to many.) ---
**Author:** ![Snugglebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snugglebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snugglebear)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072/20 "2002-09-12T12:29:43Z")
Gee Anthracite…1 Gig for $10? I just don’t think I have that many friends and co-workers. 🙂 I mean I have a hard time using up my hotmail accounts limit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hotmail-have-you-decided-on-an-outfit-yet/128072.md?page=2)