I had the opportunity to check out the next version of Windows Live Mail, that being Wave 4, a.k.a. Build 15:

…and here’s my take on it.

The ribbon interface

There are many that say the ribbon interface is one of the worst things Microsoft has ever done, but, the one thing the naysayers always forget to mention is that any clickable function can be added to the Quick Access Bar on top. All it takes is a right click, a left click, and you’re done – and you don’t even need this beta to see it. If you’re running Windows 7 now, launch Paint and try it for yourself.

To make things easier, my first suggestion is to place the Quick Access Bar below the ribbon..

..so you get this:

..and if you like, place all the usual functions you want in there, then just remove the ribbon altogether (with Minimize the Ribbon), like this:

..and you’ll discover having this level of customization is quite nice to have. Yes, it is different. Yes, it takes some getting used to. But I’m of the opinion the customization is better to have than not have.

Better Gmail support

Adding in a Gmail account has never been easier. Click Add e-mail account on the left sidebar, do this:

..and click Next. Windows Live Mail knows which mail servers to use (it uses Gmail’s IMAP by default) and you’re up and running in no time. It’s just as fast as adding in a Hotmail account.

And yes, WL Mail also auto-configures the outgoing mail server for Gmail as well as incoming.

Better track of "conversations"

Gmail users will particularly appreciate this.

When setting up a Gmail account in WL Mail, it uses a conversation view very similar to the way you view emails in the Gmail interface. In includes everything – including the sent replies.

Conversation view can be applied to any email account within WL Mail and not just Gmail.

While it’s true this has existed in previous versions of WL Mail, it’s definitely the most usable in this Wave 4 version.

Is there anything truly groundbreaking with Wave 4?

I can’t say there’s anything groundbreaking, but I will say that it is more comfortable to use, and that counts. Build 15 has a much more friendly approach to a UI and you get to see a lot more of what WL Mail can do compared to Build 14. The better Gmail support is nice, the calendar is far more accessible (adding events is now super easy and the calendar is now in plain sight whereas it wasn’t before), we’ve finally got our top icons back in Build 15 and once you get over the shock of the ribbon, it is a good mail app.

For the diehard Outlook Express 6 users – and I know there are many of you – this is the WL Mail you’ll be able to get along with once it’s officially released. Part of the reason OE6 users like that client so much is due to the nice ‘n’ easy row of icons on top. WL Mail Build 15 has all that plus a whole lot more.

It is for the OE6 users that I recommend WL Mail Wave 4 more than anyone else. If you intend on staying with Windows and using the free email client they provide, WL Mail Build 15 is the one you’ll feel comfortable switching to.

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