Maybe Microsoft should start by allowing IMAP/POP forwarding for free. I have had my hotmail account for 9 years and hardly even use it because of that. So if you get an email from my hotmail account you should know that I don't really care about you that much.

But the creator of LSD died, so where are all their ideas coming from now?

What is this??? Too intrusive, dummies.

Did they hire the asshat that ran AOL in the 90's for this steaming-pile-of-rat-droppings of an idea?

MicroSoft may as well pack "40% off Any Mac" coupons with their OS

@Darrone: The creator died. The product stayed...

i stopped using MSN messenger cause it keeps in trying to do a startup change to my registry - and it forces way too many things on you

These are inane ideas being packaged in "wow" marketing that only appeals to the sort of committees that dictate how MS adds features to Windows.

In other words, it only appeals to old, out-of-touch suits who wouldn't need these features themselves, but assume that hypothetically all the hip young kids will love it.

@Mayor McRib: Try the webmail add-on for thunderbird. It gives you POP and/or IMAP access to many web based email systems.

The only reason I still use windows is that my dad doesn't let me get windows OFF!

Let's not get Windows Live confused with Hotmail.. They are not one in the same. You MAY use your Hotmail address as your Live account name, but you certainly don't have to. I use my Gmail account.

If I had the option to save many of my Windows user preferences under my Live account so I didn't have to reenter them every time I installed Windows, I'd sure as hell do it!

Let them have their 'forced integration'. It is surprising to be typing this, but Microsoft's monopoly hold on the operating system market appears to be waning. OS X and Ubuntu are very compelling products, and are finally starting to eat away at the giant. For all we know, in ten years, the only folks using Windows may be in a corporate environment, and Windows Live will be meainingless to them.

(For that matter, Windows Live is meaningless to everyone already.)

You know what? I'd be OK with it as long as there was a "turn off stupid features" option in CP.

My father still uses AOL software because he likes getting his whole (limited) internet experience in one place.

Some people might like this. Most of us would not. As long as they didn't try to force it on us... but we all know they would.

What an empire of Evil! Forced!

Of course the integration of iPhone and iTunes (you cant even turn-it on w/o the gaze of uncle Steve) is not "forced", it's merely natural...

Windows 7 is a myth.

Microsoft has been circulating these memos to get feedback from the public. The feedback so far has been negative so far so they'll drop the idea.

Pas de problem.

After my mail disappeared from my Hotmail account, I spit at you and your wretched online services.

Looks pretty good to me :>

Sounds awesome to me. Services are becoming applications. If Microsoft want turn ex.MSPaint into a SilverLight application and deliver those via something like Live Mesh...then power to them! This a move in the right direction.

oh no...and here i just switched to Linux from Vista. boy am I gonna miss out!

Microsoft, The only company Legally NOT allowed to integrate any of their products. Anyway, this would probably suck. I would consider using Microsoft's online products if everything didn't seem so convoluted. I tried Live messenger for a while and just didn't like it. (Plus i had no one to talk to *wink**wink*) They should simplify things, make their services easy to use, easier to navigate. I know they have to have SOME good programmers working for them. I wonder what would happen if they let the little guys spend a month or two coming up with awesome ideas for their next generation products instead of letting everything be decided on by a committee of old men.

Hotmail is the worst piece of crap out there, and they want you to pay for "hotmail plus" to get all the features you can get for free with Gmail...

Dont you have enought money M$? can't you find it in your heart and just give out the full featured Hotmail for free?

Microsoft has a new integrated software pack called "Albany" that is one care, office, and other stuff all in one. actually pretty decent

And, of course, when Apple bundles in their software, they are praised for it.

Sounds fine to me.

The MS guys live in their own little worlds that makes them believe all of their sh!t actually works.

This is so sad.

A company that once dominated the entire planet is slowly nailing the lid on their own coffin...

And seem to be enjoying themselves at it too!

i think ms just jumped the shark

Fuck me.. looks like Windows 7 is turning out to be another peice of bloatwar.

Screw Windows Live. Does anyone actually use it anyway? Leave it as a download for those few who want it and make the new windows CLEAN.

MS should stop with all these add-ons pre packed into windows and release a version thats just an OS. I don't want/need any of the crap your putting in there, so give me a version without it.

The same goes for Apple. With all the ICrap they're piling into their OS these days it's only a few steps away from being another bloated piece of recourse hogging crap.

You will be assimilated, resistance is futile.

@KLanD: Most of the iStuff software that come with Apple's offerings are not actually part of the operating system.

Doesnt apple bundle the .mac stuff with osx?

@KLanD:
Huh? What's with all of the frothing at the mouth over Windows Live? Do you even know what it is?

It's a common authentication mechanism.. That's pretty much it. No software installation necessary. You can use your Windows Live ID to authenticate to Windows Live SERVICES, like Messenger, Mappoint (Or whatever they call it now), Spaces and MSDN. Which are all online.

It sounds like all they are proposing is to associate your Windows Live ID with your Windows account during the installation of the OS. That's all.

"Forced Integration"?

Bias much?

People, calm down! MS Live products and services will not be forced upon you in Windows 7. The article and memo states (I think very clearly) that the Live development team just wants to make sure that when Windows 7 is released, the Live products will be designed for and integrate with the Windows 7 experience. The memo was written by and for Live dev team members, not the Windows 7 dev team.

When I turned on my new MacBook for the first time last month, it prompted me to enter a .mac account username/password for email/webhosting etc. before it even booted to the main OS. I couldn't even get to the Finder without having to read the .mac pitch and explicitly choose to skip signing up. Splain how this is any different?

so the same thing as Apple trying to advertise for .mac account for 99 dollars. At least hotmail is free.

All praise Ubuntu, savior from proprietary operating systems and their slapping you about the head and shoulders with their other services.

Amen.

@droppedD: It's not; it sucks both ways.

Which is one reason I never take the Macheads seriously when they talk about how "open" and "free" the MacOS is. If Jobs were in Ballmer's place, our current situation would be even worse.

But I suppose by definition your behavior can't be monopolistic unless you're the market leader... if a company pitches tighter service integration when they have 1% market share, it'd be called creative marketing, service value add for the customer, etc. Since they have 90-something percent, it's called crushing healthy competition.

They should delete "hotmail" name and use "Live EMail" there or just "Email" there instead.

Second, they are trying to make things easier for the user, I'm sure you wont be "Forced" into using this if you dont want to use those services it says nothing about how they are going to "Force" you into using Live services?

Eesh, what a bunch of trolls

ya...wow...i have no idea why so many people are flipping out. as i reading i thought it sounded nice and convenient. i dont know where you guys come up with this crap.

and hotmail/msn/live email are free. i used to see stuff about upgrading...but not anymore. i think they are really going in the right direction and there is plenty of storage. skydrive is really nice too.

mac email on the other hand costs money. no matter what. you get like a 90 day trial with what i feel is a lacking service.

and again, they didnt say they are MAKING you use it. it looks like they are just trying to make things convenient for those that choose to.

and im happy to see OS X and lenux doing so well...it inspires good products. it will make MS work on better products and improve their services and stability. if not...who cares? the better product will win out. people should like products, not companies/corporations.

btw, i like windows live.

@ 8026mn

when you sign up you now have a choice. my email is insertstuffhere@live.com
i think that is much better.

I love Windows Live. If you'd actually try it, you'd discover there services weren't like they were quite a long time ago.

And Hotmail is NOT crap. I use it all the time and it works.

I think the integration would be a great thing. Imagine having all your computer settings available to you by signing into your online (Live ID) account. It's that easy.

Too bad the author can't try looking past this.

This Windows 7 you speak of .... is this a short way of writing "Windows 2017"?

By that time, the marketing idiots at MS will certainly have come up with more ways to trick people into software subscriptions. Then instead of getting service packs for free, you can pay MS extra to fix their mistakes!