Windows 7 and Email

[HoosierGuy]

I recently ordered a new computer (have not got it yet) and it has Windows 7 installed on it.

I was reading a magazine and it said Windows 7 does not come with an email client like Outlook Express.

I've used Windows XP and Outlook Express for the last five+ years.

If you have Windows 7, how do you access email? What's the best program to use for email on Windows 7?

Thanks!

[Vort]

Google mail.

EDIT: I mean "Google" as a noun, not as a verb. Google mail, as in GMail.

Edited October 22, 2012 by Vort

[Mahone]

If you need a mail client, there is always the windows live mail application (you will need to download it), which is the successor of outlook express, although for the average domestic user there is usually no need for anything other than web based mail.

There is also Mozilla Thunderbird, made by the same people that bring you firefox: Thunderbird - Software made to make email easier

Edited October 22, 2012 by Mahone

[Wingnut]

Gmail.

Seriously. I used to use Outlook because I used an email address through my ISP. We wipe our computer completely about once a year, and re-install everything. It keeps our machine running smoothly. Two years ago, we got a virus and had to wipe the computer sooner than anticipated. In the mayhem, my husband forgot to backup the file that contained all the data from Outlook -- contacts, messages, calendar, etc. I lost a year's worth of information. After that I decided to just make the switch to Gmail and I've never looked back.

[skippy740]

If you need an email client, you can use Mozilla Thunderbird... or you can download Windows Live Essentials (free) and it has an email client.

[tubaloth]

It kind of depends on who your e-mail is with.

If you have a Microsoft e-mail address (MSN, hotmail) you use the new looking outlook.com

If you have Office (and if you bought Office with your new computer... not just get the free starter edition) you could actually install Outlook (the full e-mail program)

AOL yes that AOL actually just came out (in beta) with there own Web e-mail client

Alto - Business Insider

It looks interesting.

[Mahone]

I used to use Outlook because I used an email address through my ISP

That was your first mistake, IMO :)

With outlook, you normally have an option of keeping all e-mail/contacts on the mail server, so if you lose your local copy, you can always get it back off the server. This has to be setup of course before it'll take effect.

If you use an e-mail address from your ISP, then change ISPs, you have little hope of retaining that e-mail address. It's the same as people using a work e-mail address for personal stuff... they might get a surprise one day when the unexpected happens and they no longer have access to it without warning.

[miztrniceguy]

I have used hotmail without issue since I got my first computer back in the days of Win98 SE (remember that?). I also have Thunderbird with an email connected to our home business, but rarely use it.

[HoosierGuy]

Well, when I my computer arrives I guess I'll have to find an email program to use. I don't really care for online programs like Gmail but I might have to check that out. Or that Live thing.

Do modern computers come with a factory restore function? On my two Dells with XP, I can restore both of them back to how it came out of of the box. I do that once a year or so to clean out the hard drives. My new PC is a Dell XPS 8500.

[Dravin]

Well, when I my computer arrives I guess I'll have to find an email program to use. I don't really care for online programs like Gmail but I might have to check that out. Or that Live thing.

Do modern computers come with a factory restore function? On my two Dells with XP, I can restore both of them back to how it came out of of the box. I do that once a year or so to clean out the hard drives. My new PC is a Dell XPS 8500.

You're best off asking Dell about the specific machine in question. That said Windows 7 is capable of doing something similar natively, it's not a factory restore per se, but you can make a system image as soon as you get the machine and restore to that if you so desire.

What is a system image?

Restore your computer from a system image backup

Even better, every time you restore it you can update it and then create a system image of the newly updated machine (obviously you'd make the system image after you've run Windows Update but before you start reinstalling all your programs and restoring data). Cuts down on the time spent downloading and installing updates each time you restore.

Edited October 22, 2012 by Dravin

[jerome1232]

Well, when I my computer arrives I guess I'll have to find an email program to use. I don't really care for online programs like Gmail but I might have to check that out. Or that Live thing.

You can use Mozilla Thunderbird with gmail, one thing I love about gmail is they offer IMAP for free, many email providers make you pay for that service. (IMAP is just the set of rules that allow an email client, like thunderbird, to talk to the mail server and download your emails)

[HoosierGuy]

Got my new PC today, came by FedEX. Been waiting a few weeks and now I have a terrible cold/flu and my new PC is just sitting in the box. Ugh. Worked Thursday while being sick. Thought I could tuff it out. I got home and was shivering and shaking. Had to walk in the rain to my car and only had a sweater on. Felt like I had hypothermia. I will probably have to miss three days of work and maybe more. Hope I don't get fired.

[slamjet]

I would use Hotmail or Gmail. Thunderbird if you want something on your computer, but be aware that Thunderbird is not going to be advanced with any new features, only security updates.

If you get Microsoft office, get the version that has Outlook. That is a nice email client.

[jerome1232]

Thunderbird is not going to be advanced with any new features

I forgot that Mozilla isn't giving it anymore love, well it is an open source project, one can hope the community will keep it alive.

[Mahone]

If you get Microsoft office, get the version that has Outlook. That is a nice email client.

Out of curiosity, why? From my perspective, all useful features of outlook that don't come as standard in most other mail clients require an exchange server.

Now outlook coupled with exchange - that's nice :)

[HoosierGuy]

Got my new PC set up. Wow, Windows seven is really different from XP. Not sure if I like it yet. Need to get antivirus installed before I do anything more. Then I will try one of your email suggestions. (Got a shot from the doctor today too. After three days of not eating I'm now munching on popcorn and starting to feel good again.).

[Vort]

Got my new PC set up. Wow, Windows seven is really different from XP. Not sure if I like it yet. Need to get antivirus installed before I do anything more. Then I will try one of your email suggestions. (Got a shot from the doctor today too. After three days of not eating I'm now munching on popcorn and starting to feel good again.).

Fwiw, Windows 7 is vastly superior to XP in almost every way. I thought XP was a decent OS, especially for Microsoft, but 7 was really a very large step forward for MS.

[SanctitasDeo]

I didn't like 7 at first (I liked XP quite a bit), but it grew on me. Now I like it a lot. It is the best version of Windows I have ever seen.

I would second the Gmail suggestion. Thunderbird is pretty good for a free local client. I have it set up on my 7 desktop with multiple account. I don't mind using online clients though, so I don't always use it.

I was going to post a Lifehacker article about the five best current email clients (probably aside from Outlook), but their data center is down due to Sandy.

[HoosierGuy]

I'm sort of frozen right now. I don't want to play around much on my new PC because I don't have anti-virus for it. I would run to the store and buy some but trying to get over a cold.

[Dravin]

I'm sort of frozen right now. I don't want to play around much on my new PC because I don't have anti-virus for it. I would run to the store and buy some but trying to get over a cold.

Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows, not only can you download it (actually a lot of anti-virus software allows digital purchase and download) but it's free.

[HoosierGuy]

Ugh, I hate this Windows 7 software. XP is much better. What where they thinking when they designed this horrible software? Why do I get the feeling all they want to do is dumb it down to the level of people who can't set VCR timers? Ugh.

[skippy740]

Wait till you see Windows 8. :)

[jerome1232]

See I love Win7, and I don't like Windows.

[Mahone]

Ugh, I hate this Windows 7 software. XP is much better. What where they thinking when they designed this horrible software? Why do I get the feeling all they want to do is dumb it down to the level of people who can't set VCR timers? Ugh.

Is it just the user interface that you don't like? No-one likes big changes from what they are used to, and if you've been using XP for the last 11 years, it is a big change. I got irritated at first, especially trying to find common tools in the control panel that had been relocated or renamed etc.

Give it time. I now get annoyed whenever I use XP. Two mistakes I keep making are trying to copy and paste via remote desktop and trying to resize the windows to 50% of the horizontal by dragging to the edge of the screen when using XP - catches me out every time.

As for dumbing it down, why not? Why make something more complex than it has to be? All they have done is make the common tasks much more simple through an improved user interface, whilst still allowing for more advanced tasks in the background.

Edited November 1, 2012 by Mahone