I'm curious as to why there no email program ( Outllook )?What the reason ?Thanks

Microsoft provides Windows Live mail as a download to be used with Windows 7. I think the intention is to allow people to use what mailapplication they want and not include so many programs in thebasic operating system that some may not want.

Seems to me that Microsoft is attempting to not be sued again for including programs in Windows that are available elsewhere, like what happened with I.E.Personally, I recommend webmail over any client based e-mail any day. Support requirement levels are much lower with webmail than with a stand alone client.

It's due to a problem with the law. ... "unfair competition" filed by some company due to Microsoft adding software that is similar to other products provided by these smaller companies.Also, it's for those who don't want to use Windows Live and prefer to use other e-mail software.

Nargg said: Seems to me that Microsoft is attempting to not be sued again for including programs in Windows that are available elsewhere, like what happened with I.E.Personally, I recommend webmail over any client based e-mail any day. Support requirement levels are much lower with webmail than with a stand alone client.I do to but some forum sites will not allow to use webmail . I like gmail .Thanks for the info

I think when 7 ships, there will be a link to download the latest Windows Live Mail.WLM is now two versions newer than the version in Vista (Windows Mail without the "Live"). However, when you install the newer version in Vista, it leaves the old one behind and you cannot manually remove it. So, I am glad there will not be a mail client in Win 7.

There is a link to download the windows live essentials in the getting started screen which is what most people see when they first boot up for the first time. Also, a handful of people will have computers come with the suite already installed from partnerships like the one they are starting with Dell.

Hi Lead3That was part of the reason.leaving these optional programs out of the default install also has the benefit of reducing the installation footprint which alsoresults ina faster, cleaner installation. Ronnie Vernon MVP

Basically Microsoft want users to move over to Windows Live Mail. It is also interesting that Windows 7 includes DVD maker, but not Movie Maker; again Movie maker has now become part of Windows Live.John Barnett - Windows XP Associate Expert; Windows Desktop Experience. - Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk; Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org; Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

And even more, since Outlook seems to be gone forever, I don't know of any Microsoft software that I can use as a NNTP reader. I can use Thunderbird, though.

Here is the link to live essentials aka Live Mail.Comes with a lot more than email. Pretty cool I think.http://download.live.com/

While I do use the latest version of WLM there are still some minor irritations in the newsreader. One which really annoys me is the fact that instead of all new threads being highlighted in bold, i.e., subject, from column, the only column currently highlighted in bold in the lastest version of WLM is the from column. The problem has been bugged and has been passed onto the developers.John Barnett - Windows XP Associate Expert; Windows Desktop Experience. - Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk; Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org; Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

I think including a mail client in an OS is silly, and also restricts how often they can issue updates. But bundling it with Windows Live (almost typed 'lice') they are free to issue much more frequent updates. And as others said, it reduces the installed footprint. Smaller footprint also means less attack surface, and possibly fewer patches to deploy. IMHO, the core OS should be pretty minimal and all of these fluffy utils, such as DVD maker, should be packaged as Live downloads. Alternatively MS could package up all of these programs as a free "bonus disc" that ships with W7 so people don't have to download a boatload of software. Less software in the OS also means fewer test matrices, and development can be put into more important areas such as performance and security. Outlook is far from dead, but will cost you money.

Windows Live Movie Maker is horrendous. It's been completely stripped of every bit of useful functionality. The original version from 2001 that came with XP is MUCH more powerful. seriously.

Installing the Windows 7 beta forced me to try Window Live Mail and I like it better than Outlook Express and Windows Mail. It was very easy to set up IMAP, which allows me to receive emails from my Gmail account which is my main email account.The news reader is also fairly easy to set up.Mark

I agree, Live Mail has better suport for Gmail and much much much x1000 better spam filter than Thunderbird. Layout and UI is good for me enough :)

I hate the Live text (no icon) toolbars

I wish they would make the subject line BOLD like the FROM column is in unread messages.It makes it too hard to read otherwise.I don't mind the missing icons because I know how to read.

I have been using live mail on xp and my vista home premium computer for about a year so far. I actually like it better than Windows Mail in vista. You can use your own email account to set it up or make a hotmail account, your choice. What i do like about it is if you change or edit a contact on one computer and you sign in to windows live mail when it comes up, you will see the change on another computer. I have clients that have desktops but travel with their laptops and want the ability to not use webmail. This solves this problem.I installed the windows live mail on windows 7 with no problems and i am using virtual pc 2007 which it installed with no problems.robin

Scrapping Outlook was a good thing, along with Windows Mail. There's no point having 3 different programs all doing the same thing..