Hotmail

[George38]

I have found recently with Hotmail that during the evenings emails take anything from 3 to 4 hours to arrive. This makes it a very inefficient way of communicating, specially if a quick response is needed. I realise that MSN Messenger is much quicker but doesn't cater for the sending of attachments. Although this is a real pain,I am reluctant to change from Hotmail as I like the layout, and it's easy to navigate. Any suggestions?

[fo3nix]

Either put up with it, or change.

Gmail is my web-based email system of choice. And if you think Hotmail has a nice interface and is easy to navigate, then you'll love Gmail.

[camioneur]

I agree, gmail is very good after hotmail but you'll need an invite to join

[George38]

Thanks for the answers. I must give Gmail a try!

[Space]

I get emails instantly though hotmail. Maybe the problem is on the side of the sender.
How do you refresh your hotmail page to check for new emails ?

Are there heavy files attached when you experience such delays ?

Also, you can send files though Messenger. Just drag and drop them. But when you receive a file, don't open it by clicking in the msn window, because it is paranoid and will block access to the files, saying they are harmful.

[George38]

Normally emails are fairly instant during the day. It's at night (I presume when all of America is hogging the system, making the servers extremely busy) that emails take such a long time to arrive. I've even tried sending the shortest of emails to myself with the same result. There are only one or two people from whom I receive attachments regularly with the expectation of a quick response, and it might be worth while using Gmail for these people only!

[George38]

Small problem! Camioneur suggested that in order to use Gmail, I need to be invited to join. I don't currently know anyone who uses it. The alternative is to register using my mobile phone, but this method seems to be limited to residents in the far east, Australasia, and Turkey! I seem to have reached a brick wall!!