Question: What’s the fastest webmail on the planet?
Answer: The type where you host it yourself.
An often overlooked way of doing webmail (only because most people aren’t aware of it) is using a web hosted solution. This is where you register your own dot-com/net/org, then use your web host’s webmail system in order to send and receive mail.
Yes, it costs money to register a domain and host your mail, but there are significant advantages. More on that in a moment.
The three types of webmail most web hosts have
(Note: You don’t have to know how to install any of these as they will be preinstalled on your web host account already. This is a quick list of the most common webmail systems you’ll encounter.)
Even though this webmail system looks very basic, it’s by far the easiest of the lot to use. Folder management is a breeze, as is navigating through message lists and organizing contacts. It also has something in the neighborhood of 20 to 25 different color schemes you can use, which can be modifed at any time.
This is a more advanced webmail system with icons, collapsable folder support, vacation reply abilities and more. It’s not as user friendly as Squirrelmail is, but it is more powerful.
This is probably the one most of you out there would prefer. It has the friendliest look and an interface almost as easy as Squirrelmail.
Do web host providers only use one webmail system?
No, they usually offer several. Pair Networks, which PCMech uses, offers three. Most other web host providers also offer at least three different webmail systems. And yes, you can flip-flop between them to see which you like the best without losing any mail.
Advantages of using hosted mail
1. No Ads.
When you pay for hosting, you never see ads. Ever.
2. Lightning quick.
Squirrelmail for example is so fast you’d think the system was locally installed on your computer rather than being on the internet.
3. Full POP and IMAP access.
Mail accounts hosted by your web host provider not only offer webmail but full access to POP and IMAP, so you can use a client or the webmail system, or both.
4. Spam protection just as good as the other guys (and sometimes better)
Web host providers will either use SpamCop or SpamAssassin. Both are amazing, both work wonderfully.
5. Unlimited filters.
Even with a paid Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail account you still don’t get unlimited filters – but with a hosted mail account you do, so if you want to use 500+ custom-by-you programmed email filters (why I don’t know, but you could), go right ahead.
6. Linux-friendly
Popular webmail providers design their interfaces for Windows and Mac, but not Linux. Using your own hosted mail with one of the above systems always looks good in Linux because it was designed for Linux first.
7. Unlimited forwarding addresses
I have never seen a web host that didn’t allow unlimited forwarding email addresses. There’s usually a limit on accounts that are actual mailboxes (usually starting at 50 or so), but as for forwarding addresses, create as many as you like.
Disadvantages of using hosted mail
Cost
It’s not free.
Size limit
The limit of your inbox is usually limited to 2GB. Some providers allow more, but more are 2GB. For some this is an instant deal-breaker.
No mobile access (probably)
Most web hosts do not offer any mobile-specific access to their webmail systems – HOWEVER – the interfaces are so simple that a smartphone should be able to load it easily.
Costs more than a paid Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail account
The cheapest you could do hosted mail for is 3 bucks a month. That’s a dollar more than Hotmail or Yahoo would be. However bear in mind you also get a web site along with the mail, as well as the ability to install a blog, forums, etc.
Suggested resources for registering a domain and getting hosting
Check out Web Hosting Geeks for more host choices. There’s a ton of ‘em. Shop wisely. 
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Spamcop does work wonderfully…it does a great job of blocking messages coming from Facebook, Yahoo, and Yahoo Groups. I would strongly recommend choosing a web host that DOES NOT use spamcop for filtering.