One reason why Hotmail sucks

I used to be a big Hotmail user. Now I use only Gmail. There are probably 100 reasons why Gmail is better, and probably a few in favor of Hotmail too.

But if I had to put my finger on a single reason why Hotmail sucks, it would have to be that damn leaderboard ad on the top of the page (screenshot below).

The traditional 3-pane layout in email apps causes the most precious asset to be the vertical axis. These vertical pixels have to accommodate both the list of emails, and the email itself (not to mention all the regular stuff like menus, logo, etc).

The leaderboard ad kills 90 vertical pixels. On my 1024x768 screen resolution, the vertical viewable browser area (after deducting browser menu bars, Google toolbar, tabs, windows start bar, etc) is 518 pixels. Which means that one stupid ad reduces my precious vertical real estate by nearly 20%. As soon as the Hotmail window loads, it's apparent how annoying this ad is.

I'll bet you that the designer of Hotmail (er - Windows Live) is using Gmail.

Comments

[Geoffrey Weber]

Interesting... since I moved my hotmail account over the MS' new beta live mail product, the leaderboard's are gone. In fact, Live Mail (or whatever the heck they are branding it now) is completely ad-free for me. Maybe this changes when the extended beta is over...

[ms.global]

I had the ads. I just deleted that account yesterday. I have had it!

Yahoo has the ads too. Gmail is the last free decent one that I know of.

[Daph]

I definitely agree. Hotmail really does suck. You should switch. I actually just got this new email provider and I LOVE IT! It's called BigString (http://www.bigstring.com), the new free webmail program. It offers revolutionary features. When you send mail from your BigString, you are protected. BigString is like an automatic shredder for your email. You can self-destruct or change an email that's already been sent or read. Don't leave your messages sitting in peoples' inbox forever. GO CHECK IT OUT!!!

[Daph]

I definitely agree. Hotmail really does suck. You should switch. I actually just got this new email provider and I LOVE IT! It's called BigString (http://www.bigstring.com), the new free webmail program. It offers revolutionary features. When you send mail from your BigString, you are protected. BigString is like an automatic shredder for your email. You can self-destruct or change an email that's already been sent or read. Don't leave your messages sitting in peoples' inbox forever. GO CHECK IT OUT!!!

[Robert]

Hotmail sucks.... LMAO you get what you pay for.... so how much have your paid for you Micro$oft products, is hotmail really free. I just lump it into Micro$oft sucks. Time to get off your ass's and do something about it. For the past three years I have been using Linux (Ubuntu) and loving it.... no more hotmail (I do use comcast) and no more fees for a blue screen of death. Google Ubuntu and check out the real cost of freedom

[me]

Hotmail is worthless. After ten+years online I've found Yahoo! mail to be a whole lot better. Don't rush for the newest free email: will it be around ten years from now?

[Hots]

Too bad Bigstring has not improved their interface in years. Its buggy and the ad area to the right of the screen is quite annoying. Gmail has it beat. If they want a great interface, they should emulate Fastmail.fm

At this point, I'd go back to Hotmail (gag) over Bigstring. Fortunately, there are better fish in the sea.

I understand the need for ad-based revenue. But I never click on ads that are 'in my face', so those don't work - and I use as many ad-removers as necessary (hosts and Adblock Plus).

One would think that BigString would test their site with different browsers. It just doesn't work right with Chrome.

This 'Daph' sounds like a shill.

[Lucario]

I don't no about u but i think aol is a hole lot better then hotmail

[dsa]

hotmail is shit it sucks