Microsoft outlook Connector for Windows Live hotmail PROS: Now completely free to all users, works semi-seamlessly, and is simple to configure and use.
ConS: No free calendar support—yet. RATING: 4 out of 5 RECOMMENDATIONS: If you're already using Outlook 2007 or 2003 for work, perhaps because of a Microsoft
Exchange requirement, you might want to use Outlook to manage other email accounts, including personal email
accounts. Normally, this isn't a problem: Outlook supports multiple accounts, and can work with a wide range of email service types, including those that use industry standard POP3 and IMAP technologies. Until recently,
however, accessing Hotmail (or MSN or Live.com) email via Outlook required you to have a Hotmail Pro, MSN
Premium, or other paid account. Now, access is free, and Microsoft is offering its excellent Outlook Connector
software, which adds Hotmail compatibility to Outlook, to everyone. With Outlook Connector, Hotmail is accessed
almost exactly like Exchange, where messages and contacts are kept on the server and synchronized seamlessly
with the client. There's only one small problem, and this shouldn't affect most users: Hotmail's calendar will need
to be updated before you can access it through Exchange. Microsoft says an updated version is coming within the
year. (Paid MSN users can, however, continue to access their calendar with Outlook Connector.) CONTACT: Microsoft • 800-426-9400 • http://www.microsoft.com DISCUSSION:http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winlive_hotmail_02.asp
Windows Server 2008
Beta 3, CTP, and RC PROS: Now feature-complete, with new IIS role
in Server Core; Web server can be deployed in
production environments. CONS: Pre-release code is still risky. RATING: 4 out of 5 RECOMMENDATIONS: Windows Server 2008
(previously code-named Longhorn Server) is a
major revision to Microsoft's server product line.
Microsoft has indicated that the final version will
ship by the end of the year. For now, however, Beta 3 and subsequent RC and Community Technology
Preview (CTP) releases are painting a feature complete picture of the release, and it looks solid:
Windows 2008 features a major architectural
change with componentized roles, a major new IIS
release, a command line-only Server Core install
option, a new scripting environment called Windows
PowerShell, and other new features. It's available for
free from Microsoft's Web site: Check it out today. CONTACT: Microsoft • 800-426-9400 • http://www.microsoft.com SCREENSHOTS:http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/lhs_beta3.asp
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