Thousands of users have reported problems since Microsoft updated Hotmail at the end of October
Microsoft to investigate Hotmail issues
/v3-uk/news/1962381/microsoft-investigate-hotmail-issues
12 Nov 2008, Rosalie Marshall , V3
Microsoft has promised to look into complaints about its update to Windows Live Hotmail, and correct the situation as soon as possible.
Around 2,500 users have reported problems since the update went live at the end of October.
"We are actively investigating the issues noted by our customers and are working to take the appropriate steps to remedy the situation as rapidly as possible," said a Microsoft spokesman.
The company has already issued two statements about Hotmail this month, acknowledging the complaints and answering users' questions.
The Hotmail update included Contact Picker, which is designed to make it easier for users to look up contacts when writing an email, and predictive text when users start typing in an email address.
"No big changes, more like a repainted room than a remodelled house," the Hotmail team said in its update notice. "We've just made a few improvements to Hotmail based on feedback from customers like you."
However, Hotmail customers have been generally unimpressed with the changes, according to comments left on vnunet.com.
Users have been unable to access their folders and emails, and have had difficulty forwarding and replying to messages. Other users have said that the new Hotmail does not sit well with their screen size.
In response to a vnunet.com article published on 30 October, a reader called 'Yael' wrote: "Hotmail butchered the look and killed the user-friendliness of its website with this absolutely horrendous update. Auto-fill for addresses? Great, but not at such high cost; pretty much every other new feature and layout on there is absurd and more difficult to use."
Another vnunet.com reader, Barbara Chamberlain, wrote: "Hotmail no longer fits my screen, meaning I have to keep scrolling horizontally to read incoming and check outgoing emails."
Microsoft responded to the user feedback in a blog posting at the beginning of November, arguing that the changes were made in response to interviews with hundreds of users.
Mike Schackwitz, Windows Live Hotmail programme manager, said in the same blog that Microsoft would continue to improve the new version based on user comments, including improving the page layout to give inboxes more space to satisfy users with smaller monitors.
Schackwitz also promised more themes, and an increase in the default number of messages users can see per screen.
However, more than 2,300 users posted feedback to the Microsoft blog, most of them still obviously unhappy with the update. This spurred Microsoft to blog again on Monday, offering temporary solutions to "provide some relief".
The advice was to try Windows Live Mail, the Outlook Connector for users of Microsoft Office Outlook, or the mobile version of Hotmail if users are also Linux users.
Many Hotmail users posted comments in response to the advice, showing that they remain unconvinced by the advice, although it seems that they could soon be satisfied, depending on how far Microsoft is prepared to go to "remedy the situation".
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Do you agree?
Elephants With Paint Brushes Do Better
Dear Microsoft:
I'd hate to see how you dress your kids up for school in the morning. They must be getting beaten up by every bully in town even before boarding the bus.
The new Hotmail DESPERATELY needs a choice of screen background colors. White is just too damn harsh on the eyes ! Either give us some relief - or sell us some freakin' sunglasses.
And don't make our "choices" a bunch of insipid washed-out color schemes. Pleasantly surprise us for a change - instead of giving us last year's Christmas tie for heaven's sake. Ask your wives to review your color schemes before foisting this crap on the public.
Just give us a SEPARATE choice of natural "real" colors for the tabs and another set for the background.
Since you OBVIOUSLY don't understand the concept of color coordination - just LET US DO THE MIX & MATCHING OK ?
Posted by Rob, 12 Nov 2008
MICROSOFT - GET OUR HOTMAIL FUNCTIONING AGAIN
I am experiencing all the problems other people have reported and find it ridiculous that you don't simply revert to the old format.
Admit that you have made a ballsup and get it sorted out quickly, otherwise your stock, physically and theoretically, will sure go down fast.
If you want to contact me you will have to use my FUNCTIONING email - they don't reach me on my Microsoft Hotmail - only from office networks, not from home computers!! Amazing.
Posted by DoreenMackay, 16 Nov 2008
Hotmail issues
These e-mail companies are an arrogant part of cyber-society that will not listen. I've quit both Excite and Hotmail. There are better alternatives.
Posted by BorisG, 21 Nov 2008
Frustration with logging onto Hotmail account
I am feeling infuriated with the 'security' arrangements on my account. I log in using my password correctly and keep getting messages to say I have used the wrong password, then get asked to completed a code, and still it tells me my account is 'frozen' for a while. I am finding it impossible to do my work this way! Please fix it! My e-mail address is aransell@hotmail.com
Regards,
Annette Ansell
Posted by Annette Ansell, 02 Dec 2008
Microsoft Hotmail Complaints response
Suggestions that I can get access to my Hotmail folders by altering my screen resolution to a value, not available, on my computer,is typical of the degree of support that Microsoft offers.
Reading from screen prompts and sending inappropriate advice to their Hotmail users, might clear the complaint from their "unanswered" queue, but does not project any indication of Microsoft wanting to acknowledge a valid complaint.
If there is a problem with the "upgraded" Hotmail, offer users the option of reverting to the older system,that worked, and allows access to folders.
Microsoft might be listening to user feedback, but appears to do nothing about it.
Content of the Microsoft Hotmail folders belongs to the user, or customer as Microsoft prefers to call us,I suggest that Microsoft resolves the ongoing problems before those affected choose to use litigation.
If a revised program don't work, make the earlier one that did work available, whilst you sort out the bugs in the new Hotmail version, Microsoft, and stop sending messages with the word, "frustration" included as part of the response text. We are determined to have you get things right, not frustrated because you dont.
Microsoft, we eagerly await access to our Hotmail folders, until that happens, Microsoft will become more frustrated with the increasing number of complaints.
Posted by M.Daniels, 03 Dec 2008
New Hotmail = New Coke
It locks up and is slow. My readable screen size has shrunk all to put a big flashy ad in my face I can't scroll away from.
Liberate Classic Hotmail NOW!
Posted by switched togmail, 08 Dec 2008
Hotmail Folders Update
On Sunday 14th December 2008,I received a message from Microsoft Technical Support, informing me that some of my former folders content had been recovered.
After reloading MSN, I received 5 pages of mail in my Hotmail inbox, and amongst the content was my missing e-mails, previously contained in folders.
11 days to resolve a folders issue, seems to be excessive.
Perhaps Microsoft might consider why they waited so long, before they escalated the problem to their Technical Support staff.
Another problem arising from a Microsoft upgrade is now resolved and the complaint closed.
I'm just relieved that my lost items have been restored to me at last!
Posted by Michael Daniels, 15 Dec 2008