Tech: Hotmail & MSN

Subject: Hotmail&MSN
From: Dorrie
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 02:14 PM

Theres a email rumour going round that MSN ae going to close down MSN Messenger i was just wanting to see if anyone knew anything about it? love dorrie xx

p.s sorry its not folk AGAIN

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:06 PM

Hi, Dorrie - I hadn't heard the rumor, but it doesn't sound likely to happen. If anything, I think Microsoft would combine MSN Messenger with AOL's similar products. When Microsoft discontinues something, they usually do it in a fairly smooth manner and replace it with something better. I suppose Microsoft isn't perfect and there are reasons to criticize them, but they do run their business quite well and they do put out products of good quality.
I don't think I'd put much faith in most rumors I hear on the Internet. Before I believe things, I want to see documentation.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: SeanM
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:45 PM

Just to be a bit of a stickler, MSN has already tried to 'combine' their IM with AOL's. AOL had to get a court order to force Microsoft to remove the feature that let you 'log in' to your AIM account while using MSIM, and use the MSIM as the 'portal' to both services.

I, however, do doubt that Microsoft would be ditching it's IM. The messenger is a major feature in the "Hailstorm" octopus, it being the originator and major function (currently) of the Passport system.

Don't look for it to go away. DO look for it to grow a few more tentacles in search of your wallet.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 04:42 AM


John In Remote Kansas (JIRK) on LIK's cookie.

About a year or so ago, Microsoft came out with a series of upgrades to Internet Explorer. The immediate (published) justification was that it was a response to "security issues."
Many people were pretty upset - especially with the IE5.5 release. There was the feeling that uSoft "rammed it down their throats" by demanding that you upgrade every time you connected.

Many people found that they were forced to "migrate" their email service, since IE5.5 doesn't(?) permit POP3 service - which was the original msn "classic" protocol.
We have had some recent difficulties with email service, and have been informed that we MUST upgrade to IE6. After some discussion with MSN help (screaming and shouting at a succession of MSN help-desk people), I confirmed that we would be forced to change protocols and migrate to a new server if we give up our old IE5, but was unable to confirm or refute - would we keep our (charter/cheap/lifetime) msn classic account.
Still investigating.

It was confirmed to us (repeatedly) yesterday that msn "will not provide support for commercial users," and that msn is now for "personal and recreational use only." (Our email name could be construed as suggesting a business(?)).

When we investigated the IE5.5 upgrade some time ago, we were urged to migrate our msn email to hotmail - which could be what triggered people to believe that msn messaging is going down(?)
If something does happen, I'll expect to hear about it here before uSoft explains it to me.

Pure ignorant speculation by John.

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: The Cat's Whiskers
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 05:52 AM

Hmmm...

I had problems myself with Hotmail a few months ago - they wiped my entire account without any warning and would give no explanation, no matter how many angry emails I sent to their help-desk.

Having lost just about every email address of everyone I've ever known under the sun (who on earth keeps a record of their mail addresses elsewhere...?), as well as really supportive mail from close friends I'd received whilst I was going through a rough patch, I decided to emigrate to Yahoo! and have had no problems with them so far.

I've since recovered most addresses of people I wrote to, but I did lose several friends because of it, having no idea of their postal address or 'phone number...

So... you've been warned...

TCW

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: annamill
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 04:32 PM

I had the same problem with Netscape when they "upgraded" their e-mail system. I lost everything. I e-mailed them with NO response and as a result, I no longer use'em. As for hotmail, it keeps telling me that I need to upgrade my explorer, but I don't. I get and error and continue clicking on hotmail and I get all my spam, bulkmail(junk) just fine. I only use'em because a few old friends know that address. I'm using verizonmail mostly and it's pretty good, but of course, it's not free.

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN&IE6
From: GUEST,andi
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 04:51 PM

Ok,

I do tech support for an ISP, I am going through my two cent in here NOT on the MSN msger service but on John's IE6 comment. John , I beg of you do not upgrade to IE6 until it is out of beta. There have been whoole fleet of problems associated with. Many folks i know have had to spend much money trying to go back to IE 5 or 5.5.Several have lost files and had to restoe back to factory settings. If you take a careful look at their site Microsoft will say there that they will not support beta products. Please no matter what MSN is telling think twice or Three times before you put any beta products on your computer. FOr those of you stuck with out the msn msger there wasa story in the sci-tech section of cnn yesterday about it. basically they have no idea what is going on either. Speculation around tech circles here is that they got hacked. I am not sure if that is what happened but it is interesting to this techie. sorry for the rant, please take it as a word of caution from someone who has to fix too many beta problems for folks andi

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 09:41 PM

I agree with Guest, andi, about IE6.....have had a few calls regarding it myself....I had it at one time....and ended up going back to 5.5, cause I was having too many problems with it....

Oh and Guest, andi....why don't you sign up? it's free...

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: andi
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 05:40 AM

Amergin,

I have joined, but I post from several computers between work and home and don't always take the time to log-in, sorry, andi

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Amergin
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 06:31 AM

Oh ok!, great! Nothing to be sorry over! I probably have my mudcat cookie spread over twenty different boxes at work by now...as we got what we call hotcubing.....which means we sit where ever we can find a place to sit...

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 12:48 PM

Hotmail sucks!

Use visto.com

It's about a thousand times better!

oh ya... and Netscape rules, IE drools!

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 01:55 PM

Clinton,

I think you're onto something there about Netscape.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 01:57 PM

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 05:18 PM

Netscape may be fine if you're just a user, but try developing websites and you'll find Netscape to be a real pain.

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 09:12 PM

Guest, please expand - as far as I am aware, Netscape browsers comply to the relevant HTML standards.

Jon (hoping your not suggesting we should all bow to Microsofts interpretation alone)

Subject: RE: BS: Hotmail&MSN
From: SeanM
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 09:21 PM

I think GUEST may be referring to the fact that there are (at least with the versions I've had) several HTML commands which Netscape won't support (blink and other fun widgets).

Also, I've had formatting weirdness when viewing with Netscape on a couple computers - sites designed to look good in IE suddenly show up with mostrously ugly paragraph and line malformations.

Oh well...

M