Looking For A Better Email Service? Microsoft's Outlook May Be The One You're Looking For In 2013

Photo Credit: Lizette Greco via Compfight cc

I learned how to use computers, surf the internet, and tinker with simple applications in the 90s. Back then, people were happy with DOS and Windows 3.1. We used Microsoft Outlook at the office for E-mail and the Pacman chomps on ghosts instead of trading punches with Mexican boxers.

I've used Yahoo's E-mail service for my personal correspondence since 2002 (10 years!), and was quite satisfied with it until recently when things started to get ugly (if you use Yahoo! Mail, you know what I mean). And I won't go into the details.

Last year, Microsoft launched the preview version of Outlook.com. It basically replaces Hotmail, which they haven't updated for a while. It has a smooth, clean-looking interface. It has social network integration, SkyDrive (which I still haven't explored), and best of all -- no ads (I haven't seen any, yet).

I have to say that I was quite impressed, the intuitive and modern design got me, so I signed up. I won't be closing my yahoo account soon (migrating to another webmail service takes time), but am seriously considering it, after a trial run. I searched for others who have tried it out and many gave high marks. (Click here > link to outlook.com, if you want to give it a try, too.)

That said, it's still too early to say if this new webmail service from Microsoft will be a game-changer. At the very least, it keeps the Hotmail users from jumping ship and going to Gmail. For me, however, I like the zen-like, yet feature-packed package (I hope it doesn't stray away from this in the future). Kudos to the design design team at Outlook.com.

Happy Chinese New Year 2013

Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin) or Gong Hey Fat Choy (Cantonese).*

Let us welcome the Year of the Water Snake 2013 with a sense of joy and gratitude (we should see the financial markets slithering up to record-breaking heights this year - according to Feng Shui experts).
For detailed Feng Shui tips: click here and, more, here.
*Check out this link for the text and audio of the Chinese characters for happy new year.

Looking for Success in the Year of the Snake (2013)

*Photo courtesy of Jakub Krechowicz

An entrepreneur is, essentially, a man with a vision. Others connect with and follow him because of this vision. At the start of 2013, the Year of the Snake, do something different - adopt a definite purpose and hold on to it until it becomes ingrained into your heart and mind. Success is the offspring of vision.