Windows Mail

After nearly a decade, Outlook Express has been replaced by Windows Mail. Windows Mail is in many respects quite similar to its predecessor; in fact, most Outlook Express users will effortlessly switch to Windows Mail. In addition to security, a notable focus of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, Windows Mail introduces two perhaps overdue features that lacked in Outlook Express: smart junk mail filtering and support for RSS feeds (What are RSS feeds?).

Why Introduce Windows Mail in Windows Vista?

You may wonder why Microsoft would go through the trouble of renaming the most popular email application in the world, used by millions.

Well, it looks like many consumers were confused between Microsoft Outlook, the $100 email client part of the Office productivity suite, and Outlook Express, the free email program that comes bundled with Windows itself. The two programs' official names are now Microsoft Office Outlook and Windows Mail.

Basic Differences Between Microsoft Outlook and Windows Mail

Both email programs are made by Microsoft Corp. But Windows Mail comes bundled (free) with Windows Vista, like Outlook Express did with previous versions of Windows. You must purchase Microsoft Outlook however, standalone or part of a Microsoft Office package.

Microsoft Outlook handles multiple facets of your digital life, and is more geared towards business users. In addition to email, Outlook features a robust calendar and task manager; Outlook 2007 also introduces support for RSS feeds. Outlook is also optimized to work with Microsoft Exchange, a powerful business email server software.

Windows Mail only handles emails and newsgroup subscriptions; it is designed with home users in mind, and is overall more user-friendly (read "less complicated") than Outlook.

In sum, the differences between Windows Mail and Microsoft Outlook are the same we found in the past between Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook.

Here is the bottom line: if you can spare a hundred dollars, Outlook will offer much more, and make organizing your life a lot easier. Windows Mail will be best suited for exchanging emails and pictures with your friends and family.