I downloaded Windows Live Mail 2009 (build 14.0.8050.1202) to see if the
problems in using the program on 800 x 600 screens in still there. Although
there have been some minor improvements in use of space in the program, it
is still terrible on smaller screen sizes typical of netbooks. I updated my
assessment at www.segal.org/tablet/live/ to reflect the new version.

The main problem is the separation of mail into different accounts is done
in a way that doesn't work on small screens. This is very fixable - indeed
Microsoft did a great job on the usability of its previous email programs.
But Microsoft seems not to have focused on the usability of Windows Live
Mail on small screens.

This is unfortunate since mobile computers such as netbooks seem to be one
of the major trends in computers and unless this is fixed before Windows 7
ships Microsoft will be left without a workable offering in one of the most
commonly used categories of software.

"If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out." (Mark 9:47)
--
~PA Bear

Mickey Segal wrote:

> I downloaded Windows Live Mail 2009 (build 14.0.8050.1202) to see if the
> problems in using the program on 800 x 600 screens in still there.
> Although
> there have been some minor improvements in use of space in the program, it
> is still terrible on smaller screen sizes typical of netbooks. I updated
> my
> assessment at www.segal.org/tablet/live/ to reflect the new version.
>
> The main problem is the separation of mail into different accounts is done
> in a way that doesn't work on small screens. This is very fixable -
> indeed
> Microsoft did a great job on the usability of its previous email programs.
> But Microsoft seems not to have focused on the usability of Windows Live
> Mail on small screens.
>
> This is unfortunate since mobile computers such as netbooks seem to be one
> of the major trends in computers and unless this is fixed before Windows 7
> ships Microsoft will be left without a workable offering in one of the
> most
> commonly used categories of software.

Very good, but seriously I have been looking at netbooks and they all
include XP installed. Since the ones I have looked at all appear to have
single core processors, it is unlikely that any will have Vista or Windows 7
soon. Comments?

Earle

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:#e#MNE2cJHA.3792@xxxxxx

> "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out." (Mark 9:47)
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
> Mickey Segal wrote:

>> I downloaded Windows Live Mail 2009 (build 14.0.8050.1202) to see if the
>> problems in using the program on 800 x 600 screens in still there.
>> Although
>> there have been some minor improvements in use of space in the program,
>> it
>> is still terrible on smaller screen sizes typical of netbooks. I updated
>> my
>> assessment at www.segal.org/tablet/live/ to reflect the new version.
>>
>> The main problem is the separation of mail into different accounts is
>> done
>> in a way that doesn't work on small screens. This is very fixable -
>> indeed
>> Microsoft did a great job on the usability of its previous email
>> programs.
>> But Microsoft seems not to have focused on the usability of Windows Live
>> Mail on small screens.
>>
>> This is unfortunate since mobile computers such as netbooks seem to be
>> one
>> of the major trends in computers and unless this is fixed before Windows
>> 7
>> ships Microsoft will be left without a workable offering in one of the
>> most
>> commonly used categories of software.

>

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...xh6xQD95K2TL00
Headline: Texas death row inmate pulls out eye, eats it

Microsoft will need a better ad campaign than this.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23e%23MNE2cJHA.3792@xxxxxx

> "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out." (Mark 9:47)

Windows 7 is being promoted as fast and lean, which sounds ideal for
netbook-type devices. It will be weird if Microsoft cripples netbooks by
forcing them to stay 2 operating systems behind because of changes it makes
in its email program.

"Earle Horton" <earleh@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eHxBLL2cJHA.3792@xxxxxx

> Very good, but seriously I have been looking at netbooks and they all
> include XP installed. Since the ones I have looked at all appear to have
> single core processors, it is unlikely that any will have Vista or Windows
> 7 soon. Comments?

They are also appearing with 10 GB solid state drives preloaded with XP, 1.5
GB RAM. I could make one of those work for what I want to do, as long as I
had a USB drive or two for my data. I'd like to see a descendant of Vista
fit on 10 GB...

Cheers,

Earle

"Mickey Segal" <not_monitored@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ueU24O4cJHA.5412@xxxxxx

> Windows 7 is being promoted as fast and lean, which sounds ideal for
> netbook-type devices. It will be weird if Microsoft cripples netbooks by
> forcing them to stay 2 operating systems behind because of changes it
> makes in its email program.
>
> "Earle Horton" <earleh@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:eHxBLL2cJHA.3792@xxxxxx

>> Very good, but seriously I have been looking at netbooks and they all
>> include XP installed. Since the ones I have looked at all appear to have
>> single core processors, it is unlikely that any will have Vista or
>> Windows 7 soon. Comments?

>

I'm using an HP 2133 Mini-Note with Windows 7 Beta 1 installed and it runs
quite fine as does WLM. Of course the HP 2133 has a higher screen
resolution than most other Netbooks (1280 x 768) but that was the reason I
bought it. This Netbook came with Vista Business and while it was no speed
demon with the VIA C7 processor it was useable albeit slow. Windows 7 seems
to be running terrific on the Mini-Note. I believe Microsoft has only
licensed XP on Netbooks until July 2009 so one can expect that all Netbooks
at some point will come with either Windows 7 or Linux.

"Earle Horton" <earleh@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eHxBLL2cJHA.3792@xxxxxx

> Very good, but seriously I have been looking at netbooks and they all
> include XP installed. Since the ones I have looked at all appear to have
> single core processors, it is unlikely that any will have Vista or Windows
> 7 soon. Comments?
>
> Earle
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:#e#MNE2cJHA.3792@xxxxxx

>> "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out." (Mark 9:47)
>> --
>> ~PA Bear
>>
>> Mickey Segal wrote:

>>> I downloaded Windows Live Mail 2009 (build 14.0.8050.1202) to see if the
>>> problems in using the program on 800 x 600 screens in still there.
>>> Although
>>> there have been some minor improvements in use of space in the program,
>>> it
>>> is still terrible on smaller screen sizes typical of netbooks. I
>>> updated my
>>> assessment at www.segal.org/tablet/live/ to reflect the new version.
>>>
>>> The main problem is the separation of mail into different accounts is
>>> done
>>> in a way that doesn't work on small screens. This is very fixable -
>>> indeed
>>> Microsoft did a great job on the usability of its previous email
>>> programs.
>>> But Microsoft seems not to have focused on the usability of Windows Live
>>> Mail on small screens.
>>>
>>> This is unfortunate since mobile computers such as netbooks seem to be
>>> one
>>> of the major trends in computers and unless this is fixed before Windows
>>> 7
>>> ships Microsoft will be left without a workable offering in one of the
>>> most
>>> commonly used categories of software.

>>

The problem is not with netbooks per se but rather with 800 x 600, which is
a good resolution for small devices. But as others have pointed out in
similar threads, the easiest way to resolve this issue may be to do what
people did to deal with similar steps backward in the Internet Explorer 7
interface - switch to the Mozilla product, in this case Thunderbird.

"Kevin Young" <KY_NNTP@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:744FCCB9-59BD-4485-9470-A08137AD13F0@xxxxxx

> I'm using an HP 2133 Mini-Note with Windows 7 Beta 1 installed and it runs
> quite fine as does WLM. Of course the HP 2133 has a higher screen
> resolution than most other Netbooks (1280 x 768) but that was the reason I
> bought it. This Netbook came with Vista Business and while it was no
> speed demon with the VIA C7 processor it was useable albeit slow. Windows
> 7 seems to be running terrific on the Mini-Note. I believe Microsoft has
> only licensed XP on Netbooks until July 2009 so one can expect that all
> Netbooks at some point will come with either Windows 7 or Linux.