Outlook Express on Windows 7 system

I seem to be getting a lot of email on, this issue since the day Windows 7 was officially launched. All those who had been using a Windows XP computer now want their favorite email client, Outlook Express, on Windows 7. Here is some of the feedback:

“I have just bought new laptop with Windows 7. Could you direct me in helping to install Outlook Express which I have got on my other computer.”
Donna

“Since Outlook Express doesn’t work with Windows 7, what is the closest to OE that will work?”
Jerry L Rochelle

“I bought a new notebook computer with Windows 7 in it. On my home computer I get my mail via Outlook Express. I can’t seem to get on my laptop. Any help is hugely appreciated.”
Arlene

“I cannot set up Outlook Express on Windows 7 Professional. Can you help?”
John J Galvin

Bad news: You cannot install Outlook Express on Windows 7.
[Take a deep breath and relax… it’s not the end of the world because there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel – keep reading].
For those who had been using Windows XP and never touched Vista, this might come as a shock. Actually, Outlook Express was phased out with Windows Vista itself, where it was replaced by Windows Mail.

In my opinion, and I don’t think I am way off the mark, Windows Mail is simply a new name for Outlook Express 7. Anyway, Windows Mail Vista was also shown the door and Microsoft launched a newer email client – Windows Live Mail which is the default email program on Windows 7.

Outlook Express alternative for Windows 7

There are many popular email programs. However, you don’t need to download and setup one because Windows Live Mail is already installed – it was on my recently bought Windows 7 VAIO laptop. Thus, the best alternative to Outlook Express on Windows 7 is the default email client if you want to continue with Microsoft products.

There has been a mixed sort of response to Windows Live Mail. Some users have not been very happy with the way emails are organized in this program because each account that you set up in Windows Live Mail has its own five default folders – “Inbox“, “Drafts“, “Sent items“, “Junk e-mail” and “Deleted items“. Then there are others (including me), who have like this segregation. And Windows Live Mail is much more than a simple email and news client – it’s a blogging tool as well as an RSS reader.

My experiences with Windows Live Mail

I have been using this program for over a year now; yes, I had it for months on my Vista based computer. So do I think Windows Live Mail is better than Outlook Express? Most certainly! I have about 10 email accounts set up in the email program including those from Hotmail and Gmail and there hasn’t been a problem. Never did this program crash or behaved erratically so there weren’t any major problems. However, I did find a small glitch with the RSS reader… but it was a very minor issue. The inbuilt automated spam filter is nothing much to write home about – it doesn’t do a thorough job so I recommend using a third party application or service.

By the way, if your Windows 7 computer didn’t come with this new email program, you can download Windows Live Mail for free from the Microsoft web site. Suggested reading: Is there Outlook Express for Windows 7?

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