Evening folks,
Recently there have been some postings to various blind technology lists
about the Misconceptions about Windows Live mail. From what I understand,
Live mail will only effect those using hotmail. This is because, people
on
Hotmail use the HTTP way of accessing E-mail. Microsoft, use a different
protocol for Hotmail users to access their e-mail. For this reason, they
have to switch to windows Live mail. Frankly, this was coming. New
outlook
express users could not use hotmail anymore with out paying for it, and
Microsoft was slowly dropping the ball on outlook express. For those who
use
hotmail, you could use something that would use a pop3 or imap server.
This
includes but is not limited to, gmail and other free e-mail services.
Now, Let me try and clear out some misconceptions in the blindness
community.
Firstly, windows Live mail is navigable with jaws, and probably
window-eyes.
You can certainly use it, there some focus issues but apart from that, it
is
usable. Jaws9, does, indeed, have built-in scripts for WL mail. While not
perfect, they are functionable. a person can use most of the keystrokes
to
accomplish what they need to in WLM mail. Composition of messages is
pretty
straight forward, except for turning off the PC cursor.
oh, BTW, you don't have indication of weather a message is read or
unread.
Now, my opinion.
Yes, windows Live mail is usable to a certain degree with jaws 9 and
maybe
other screen readers, but I don't think it is perfect as well. I think we
should make the gradual move to it, and Notify screen reader vendors
that
this will be a key program in the future. outlook express is not! and I
mean not!!! just gonna die now,and as you have seen, it only effects
hotmail users. Plus, there are alternatives, for those Hotmail users.
I would recommend that Hotmail users try out windows Live mail. Honestly,
it's not that bad. Now, if you don't have jaws9 or what ever, there is
alternative e-mail services, clients etc. Don't!, Don't,! be afraid
to
try out new things.
For those people like me who don't use hotmail, but another e-mail
service,
stick with outlook express, imho... because there are still bugs in
Windows
Live Mail.
Kindest regards,
orhan.
