Windows Mail facts for kids

Windows Mail was a special program that came with the Windows Vista computer operating system. It was like a digital mailbox on your computer, helping you send and receive emails. Think of it as an app specifically designed for handling your electronic messages.

What is Windows Mail?

Windows Mail is known as an email client. This means it's a software program that lets you manage your emails directly from your computer without needing to open a web browser. It helps you write new emails, read messages from friends and family, and organize all your incoming and outgoing mail.

Its History

Before Windows Mail, there was another very popular email program called Outlook Express. This program was included with older versions of Windows, like Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. When Windows Vista came out, Microsoft decided to update their email program, and that's when Windows Mail took the place of Outlook Express.

Why It Changed

Even though Windows Mail was part of Windows Vista, it wasn't included in later versions of Windows. This is because Microsoft introduced a newer, more advanced email program called Windows Live Mail. Windows Live Mail was part of a bigger set of online services, offering more features and connecting better with other Microsoft tools.

Key Differences

One interesting difference between Windows Mail and its older brother, Outlook Express, was how they were packaged. Outlook Express often came bundled with Internet Explorer, Microsoft's web browser at the time. However, Windows Mail was a separate program and wasn't directly tied to Internet Explorer in the same way.

Images for kids

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  A screenshot of Windows Mail displaying a user's Inbox folder