MSN Internet Service Providers dropped My important pop-3 e-mail without even a notice! Rip-off! Customers forced to go out & buy a $135 Outlook 2002 CD & download /install the stupid & slow MSN version 7 Redmond Washington
Without any warning what-so-ever, Microsoft dropped its POP 3 e mail service forcing MSN ISP customers to go to internet e mail. For those customers who use only OUTLOOK and not OUTLOOK Express, they were forced to go out and buy a $135 Outlook 2002 CD and download/install the stupid and slow MSN version 7 (the new dial up utility and internet access software).
For those of us who rely on OUTLOOK to operate our professional practices or businesses, this was a major shock. What's really unfortunate is that without upgrading to OFFICE XP and Windows XP, the Outlook 2002 runs a little fluky on Windows 98 SE and all other non-XP Windows.
This was a brazen attempt to force a number of us to Upgrade to: OFFICE XP, WINDOWS XP, MSN 7, OUTLOOK 2002 AND 2003. The total costs for these upgrades are about $550, plus an enormous amount of time to install and learn the new versions.
My solution was to cancel MSN's ISP, Upgrade to Comcast's fast internet service (on the cable, so you can cancel the extra phone line!) and delete all MSN files, to include MSN 7 (which is an AOL feel alike bullshit internet facility for morons!)
Microsoft is a company who cares little about anything but extracting your money from your checking account. They don't even have to nerve to tell you in advance.
Robert
kirkland, Washington
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
kirkland,Washington,
U.S.A.
Answer to Rebuttal!
#3Author of original report
Sun, March 16, 2003
Sir, they forced you to us MSN 7, right? That's the older version you mentioned. Well, I have some very bad news for you: you are now NOT using a SERVER POP 3 e mail access system, you are now using web based e mail! Microsoft intends to convert all MSN accounts to Web/internet based Email.
Yes, you can continue to use your old MSN email address by buckling in to Microsoft, but there is an alternative: If you have a hotmail account, you can continue to receive MSN e mail under your old account name for years after you cancel MSN! When you log into hotmail you enter your old MSN address: ripoff@msn.com and your old MSN password: liedtoo2, and you can read and respond to your MSN e mail messages.
I simply sent out a massive e mail from my Outlook contacts file and told them of my new e mail address on Comcast. I then, daily, inform those I want to continue to receive email from, of my new e mail address. Sorry, that you fell for the lie about POP 3 email.
I assume from your reply that you are not using Outlook as your e mail software and that you are using Outlook Express. Thank your luck stars, otherwise you would have had to go out and buy Outlook 2002 or 2003 in order just to continue to send and receive e mail on your MSN account.
Francis
Union,Maryland,
U.S.A.
I use a pop3 msn account and here is how I handled it
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sat, March 15, 2003
I was foolish and upgraded to the newer MSN 8 I lost my pop 3 e-mail account to web based which is useless for me as a business person. I contacted MSN and they told me it could not be undone and that I made the choice to go web based e-mail. I reformated my disk(lots or work but free) and reinstalled an older verson of MSN. I recalled MSN and they reinstated my pop3 account that is compatible to the older versions of MSN. but I lost what was in the mail box during the time I went through this. I would have gone to another provider but I have had the same e-mail address for 7 years.