Since I know a few who read this will probably get instantly confused here, what I’m specifically talking about is www.outlook.com web-based email and not the Microsoft Outlook software product. Yeah, I know, Microsoft did a dumb again by naming two products almost the exact same thing even though they’re almost completely different from each other.
This is the Outlook.com webmail system:
Can you get an outlook.com email address? Yes.
Can you get one right now? Also a yes (although it’s easier to test with an existing Hotmail account you have; I’ll tell you how in a moment).
Should you? Well, that’s up for debate.
Outlook.com is basically what the next generation of Hotmail is going to be. Simplified to the extreme, streamlined for modern browsers and a different Microsoft approach to how webmail should work.
Like with Hotmail, you can use an outlook.com email address via POP or the Windows Live Mail client, but no IMAP.
The best way to describe this new way of Microsoft webmail is to compare it to the existing Hotmail system.
Is it faster?
Yes; it loads significantly quicker compared to current Hotmail.
Is it easier?
Yes. The menu redesign is a lot easier to get along with. Everything is easier to read. And the big monochromatic icons from the “Outlook” menu are a nice touch.
Even when composing a new message, the very light interface is a lot more user-friendly.
Is it better?
Better than existing Hotmail? Absolutely.
Better than Gmail? In some respects.
The outlook.com interface blows away Gmail in terms of speed, but to compare Outlook.com mail to Gmail is like comparing apple and oranges as far as I’m concerned. Microsoft has their vision of what they think email should be, and Gmail has “the Google way” of doing it.
Put another way, If you’re a Gmail’er and have been looking for something simpler, faster and more streamlined, you’ll love Outlook.com webmail. If on the other hand you’re a “Gmail-’til-I-die” type, there’s no way I could convince you to even try outlook.com webmail, much less switch over to it.
Outlook.com webmail is best described as a mobile-style interface for a PC or Mac without going overboard.
I give the new Outlook.com webmail a thumbs-up. It’s better than existing Hotmail, very easy to use and has no learning curve whatsoever, and overall is a pleasant messaging experience. Believe me when I say that if this was worse than existing Hotmail, I would tell you. But I can’t see anything that’s taken any bad turns here.
On a final note, can you use this new interface with your existing Hotmail account?
Yes!
Go to www.outlook.com and login with your existing Hotmail account. Once logged in, this is how you’ll be greeted:
And if you want to swtich back to the old interface, use the cog icon:
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