Microsoft Hotmail/Passport Service Interrupted:UPDATED 272
Oryx Gazella writes "Unable to access Hotmail this Christmas morning? This would be why!
You may have received an error like "unable to locate host", or "no such domain" after your browser was directed from www.hotmail.com to lc2.law5.hotmail.passport.com. There are no NS records for the domain passport.com in any of the root name servers. Hotmail (www.hotmail.com) uses the Passport Service (www.passport.com) which allows users of the Microsoft Messenger Service to login using their "Passport" and to add other Passport members to their contact list. The new MSN Messenger Service 2.0 is integrated with MSN Hotmail and Microsoft Outlook Express for real-time email notification, and retrieval.
" Not being a Hotmail or regular Windows user for that matter, I cannot verify this - but I've gotten several e-mails from people this morning wondering about it.Update: 12/26 01:39 by H :Click below to read the quite humourous conclusion to this story.
Effugas writes "Oh, this is just beautiful. Linux user Michael D. Chaney of Doublewide.Net, upon reading of Microsoft's Christmas loss of the passport.com domain, took it upon himself to donate $35.00 for the world's largest software company to restore service for its customers. I've heard about Linux empowering its users to truly prevent downtime, but this is ridiculous ;-) I'm still laughing--Merry Christmas, Microsoft, from the Linux community to you! "
It's working (Score:2)
Folks, it's 6:00AM CST and Hotmail is again accessible. passport.com is finally resolvable again:
[root@dialerServer: localhost
Address: 127.0.0.1
Name: passport.com
Address: 207.46.198.16
By golly, I think I fixed it.
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:1)
Re:Posible headlines (Score:2)
World richest man doesn't pay his bills
The Geek who saved christmas
Microsoft lets Passport.com registration expire
Bill Gates is such a twit
(has nothering to do with the story
but i'de like to see it anyway)
Microsoft sold your Ewallet for $35.00
NSI blips off Microsoft
Bill Gates get charity from Linux in christmas
Microsoft lets passport.com expire.
_________________________
Re:you da man! ! (Score:1)
_________________________
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:1)
Hey hemos and friends, how about an update to the front story?
Re:Why didn't HOTMAIL staff fix this already (Score:1)
You've hit the point right on the head.
This is an example of how lazy a monopoly is about it's customers. This is an example of how MS doesn't care about it's users. This is why so many people dislike MS.
_________________________
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
Re:Hotmail just hired a FreeBSD expert... (Score:1)
Yahoo mail great since before Yahoo! (Score:1)
Availability has never been a problem, and the features are very well laid out and useful. As Roblimo, I use the POP access all the time, makes it so much easier on other people's computers. The filtering is also quite good (bulk mail and personal filters both).
I also give Yahoo kudos for their smooth transition a couple months ago for those of us with Rocketmail accounts, being allowed to keep our addresses but switch over to the "official" Yahoo Mail system. Though for the two years between Yahoo buying it and switching it over we had no advertisements.
Email me at luko (at) rocketmail (dot) com
LoppEar
A good example of distributed support (Score:3)
ms often claims that "there isn't any one source for suport" in Linux. This is a good thing, and it is related to the passport.com outage. here's why.
When passport.com went out early on the morning of the 25th, a loose band of Linux users from around the world (using /. as there hub) set to work on the problem early Christmas morning. Never thinking about themselves, never considering that it was a holiday, all they knew was that it was a network, and it needed fixing.
These selfless acts of working a problem through to a solution is not only common in the Linux comunity, it's standard.
At first, many people thought it was a problem with Hotmail (as the original story stated [slashdot.org]), but it didn't take long to find out that it was something else.
While many people suspected a problem in DNS, the first sign of what the problem might be, came from an anonymous user at 9:30 AM confirming earlier thoughts that it may be a NSI related DNS problem.
*** ns.cw.net can't find passport.com:
Non-existent host/domain
> www.passport.com
Server: ns.cw.net
Address: 204.70.128.1
Other users expressed thoughts that the domain was shut off by non-payment (Hydrophobe on 09:44 AM -- Saturday December 25 1999 CST) but didn't give details.
Still, many thought perhaps faulty DNS caching may play a roll. After all, ait would be rare for a domain like passport.com (who controls purchases at nearly 30 domains around the internet) would be out.
Then at 09:53 AM -- Saturday December 25 1999 CST /. user zyklone@hotmail.com hit paydirt when he looked up passport.com at: https://payments.networksolutions.com/
Also, /. user vovin posted a few nslookeps to confirm that the DNS was indeed where the problem was.
Less than an hour later: by Trailer Trash (mdchaney@michaelchaney.com) on 10:58 AM -- Saturday December 25 1999 CST (#90)
(User Info) http://www.doublewide.net/
Hey, I paid it for them. Merry Christmas, Microsoft.- ------------------------------
---- Your transaction was successful. Payment has been posted for the domain.
-------------------------------------------------
Details of your transaction are given below. You may print this page for future reference.
Card Type: MASTERCARD Card Number: [SNIP]
and boom, the domain was back up and running.
distributed support in action
This is also an axample of why monopolies are bad things. ms, to fat lazy to care about it's customers, left all the passport.com users disapointed just when they needed the service the most, in the heart of the holiday buying season.
And all of this could have been prevented by a simple $35,00 payment.
_________________________
Why did NSI do this now? (Score:1)
Is this a monthly thing for NSI? Or are they really idiots enough that they started cracking down on late payments, at a time when noone would know until Christmas day? It's almost like they were getting kickbacks from Motorola because not enough people send pages on Christmas. (sorry, so many people have been posting really idiotic Linux vs NT vs BSD messages over this, when it's only what the root-servers are running that could possibly matter)
Anyone transfered a domain from NSI to a competitor yet? Did it hurt? I have two with NSI, and stupidity like this has caused me to hate their idea of good service.
Re:Yahoo (Score:1)
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:1)
Re:Uh, no. Un*x is hard, Windows is not. (Score:1)
I check my mail on my pop3 account from Netscape inside Linux 2.2 by clicking on a little "button" in the lower right hand corner of the screen with my mouse. This is even easier, I think, than typing in those eleven or so characters; it is even one or two mouse clicks fewer than pulling down the "bookmarks" menu and picking Hotmail off it.
Just think of all the effort I save! If I check my mail twice a day for the next ten years, I'll have freed up enough time to download one more centerfold picture from alt.mag.playboy. Maybe even two more pictures.
Yours WDK - WKiernan@concentric.net
Blatant plug (Score:1)
It's nice and reliable, high uptime, filters, no spam, folders, etc, the works.
Re:Only moron's [sic] use hotmail (Score:2)
On this day--of all the possible days that the year is long--on this very day apart from all others, one might have held out a scintilla of hope for a tiny bit more charity, caring, and compassion than is otherwise customary. But one would then have been forgetting the nature of our medium, the particular allure of faceless lack of accountability, and the bilous hate, hurt, and harm that daily spew from Slashdot. Though the morrow bring ample opportunity for once again being the poster children for Man's inhumanity to Man, why put off till tomorrow what could be mercilessly inflicted today?
Peace to you and yours.
Just payed 70$ for Microsoft.net (Score:1)
I just wanted to make sure that Microsoft can keep the domain, even though they have registred the domain in november but haven't payed the bill yet.
Record last updated on 22-Nov-1999.
Record created on 22-Nov-1999.
Database last updated on 25-Dec-1999 12:47:25 EST.
********
Your transaction was successful. Payment has been posted for the domain.
-------------------------------------------------
Details of your transaction are given below. You may print this page for future reference.
Card Type: VISA
Card Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount Charged (USD): 70.00
Approval Code: A 00 171656 00936058613054022BFV 01 X X
-------------------------------------------------
List of Domains
Count Domain Name Invoice Number Amount Due 1 microsoft.net 14825868 70.00
-------------------------------------------------
Thank you for using the On-Line Payment System. If you wish to pay for another domain, click on the Start button. If you have completed your transactions, click on Quit to exit the system and visit the Network Solutions Home Page.
********
You can find the proof of the above at:
http://www.worldwidewait.com/ms/ms.html [worldwidewait.com]
Regards
Sune Hansen
Does you girlfriend have a GUI interface? (Score:1)
Now you're going to tell me a GUI is easier than an interface that mimmicks human interaction: the command line?
Repeat after me, Bill Gates did not invent the computer. Bill Gates did not invent the computer. come on now you can do it. Bill Gates makes money the same way, any salesman does, ripping off people with gimmicks.
Oh and By the way, it's **n*x not Un*x.
Re:Why? Microsoft.net isn't in use (Score:1)
_________________________
Re:Why? Microsoft.net isn't in use (Score:1)
Because I wanted to give Microsoft a Cristmas gift.
Regards
Sune
I haven't been able to get into Hotmail for months (Score:2)
More than just a Hotmail problem (Score:2)
Acording to ms own press release, (found at:http://www.passport.com/directory/ [passport.com]) this isn't just a hotmail issue. They have several domains signed up to use a service that ms itself wouldn't pay $35.00 to maintain.
The list: ArtSelect.com
BottomLineMac.com
Buy.com
CDW Computing Solutions
Costco Online
Crutchfield Electronics
ephones
ePCdirect.com
Flowerbud.com
Flowersandgifts.com
FurnitureFind.com
Giftpoint.com
Kabang.com
LEF.org
Lodging.com
MSN eShop
MSN Gift Certificates
My Shopping Club
OfficeMax.com
RedTag.com
Sandrine.com
TooHome.com
Toytime.com
Umbra.com
VCOM.com
========
Like most linux users, I would like to see electronic comerce thrive and progress, but in a safe secure manor.
Therefore, we should consider it our duty to inform the webmasters at these domains that ms doesn't have there interests in mind. That ms could care less about the success of there venture. That ms left the passport.com domain down in the middle of the holiday buying season, and that they should be held liable for all contracts expressed or implied.
If we each pick a domain and send an email informing them (be nice!) of the way ms has handled themselves in this situation, perhaps they will think twice about partnering with a monopolist that wouldn't give $35 to help them.
_________________________
Generous Linux user loses $35 to organized crime (Score:2)
NSI probably just lost MSFT's original payment. They've done it before. Been there, done that, didn't have any fun and I bet I'm not the only one.
Neat gesture, though, and it's probably the fastest way of dealing with this kind of problems with NSI. Almost as fast as sending 20 $100/minute lawyers to their head office.
Thank god there's competition in the registration business these days... I hope microsoft sue the clothes off from them (after which everyone can do the same to microsoft. Excluding Bill, that would be just too disgusting to see)
It works for me... (Score:2)
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
Pretty good webmail with great interface, nice features (notification of new mail to other account, etc)
not to mention a really great name
Jordan
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
I used to have a spam address there, probably still have, but the downtimes are incredible and it's slow and they shove you screenfuls of smut ads.
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:1)
-- Stargazer
Re:It works for me... (Score:1)
Re:Hotmail Alternatives? (Score:1)
the domain just kicks ass
i havent' had any problems with it, but then i haven't really used it either
hotmail sUx0rZ (Score:1)
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:2)
Not NSI' Repsonibility (Score:1)
On the other hand, I think Monday will be amusing when people wake up and realize what has happened.
Decent webmail? (Score:3)
Does anyone have any opinions as to which webmail (Lycos, Yahoo, Netscape, Hotmail, OperaMail, etc.) is the best. By best I mean:
1. Reliable! 99.99% uptime!
2. Quick access.
3. Everything else (sub-folders, filters, etc.)
-chill
More info (Score:1)
Are you interested in being associated with a mail system that goes down more than a presidential intern? :) Now's your chace to work for the evil empire.
_________________________
No Hotmail in the Great White North (Score:1)
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:1)
This isn't really the point, as the issue is DNS and not OS reliability or security, but microsoft.com does get knocked over. See here [coastalnet.com] - home.microsoft.com, running IIS on NT4, telling me "Server too busy." (You'll just have to take my word it that I didn't doctor that screenshot any. I thought it was so funny when that happened, I had to capture it.)
--
MS introducing their root name servers? (Score:1)
Eek. Let's hope it won't happen.
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:1)
Pan
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:2)
Registrant:
Microsoft Corporation (PASSPORT6-DOM)
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
US
Domain Name: PASSPORT.COM
Administrative Contact:
Micosoft Hostmaster (MH37-ORG) msnhst@MICROSOFT.COM
425 882 8080
Fax- -
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
MSN NOC (MN5-ORG) msnnoc@MICROSOFT.COM
425 882 8080
Fax- PATH
Billing Contact:
Gudmundson, Carolyn (CG6635) carolyng@MICROSOFT.COM
+1 (425) 882-8080 (FAX) +1 (425) 936-7329
Record last updated on 25-Dec-1999.
Record created on 02-Oct-1996.
Database last updated on 26-Dec-1999 13:38:06 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
DNS4.CP.MSFT.NET 207.46.138.11
DNS5.CP.MSFT.NET 207.46.138.12
Proposed fix (Score:3)
cat >>/etc/named.conf <<'EOF'
zone "passport.com" {
type forward;
forwarders 207.46.138.10;
};
EOF
Assuming, of course, that you are running your own BIND (which IMHO, is nearly always a good idea). Otherwise, add the required entries to your /etc/hosts file.
Not running Unix? Too bad, isn't it...
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
there is a reason... (Score:1)
First for /. ? (Score:1)
Is this the first time slashdot has been used in this way, as a real-time tool to coordinate a debugging effort?
Obviously... (Score:1)
IT'S Y2K!! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!! (Score:2)
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
That's not the spirit of Christmas (Score:1)
Btw, this incident reminds me of that story of Bill Gates' grocery coupon:
At the checkout line, Bill Gates started nervously searching his wallets, his pockets, for a rebate coupon of 50 cents that he though he had with him. But alas, he couldn't find it. In the meantime, a huge queue built up behind him. But he continued searching, until somebody waiting in the queue behind him just tossed him two quarters...
Re:Proposed fix (Score:2)
Don't let your named listen on port 53, make it send queries from a non-standard port, use fascist logging on port 53, use the openwall Linux security patches to make the stack non executable, don't run BIND as root, and always follow bugtraq to learn about the latest security holes.
That should be reasonably safe.
Check out Angelfire. 'Tis Grand (Score:2)
Here. [angelfire.com]
Merry Christmas 5l45hd07 b17ch35!
(Just kidding, I'm not 1337 enough to have come up with that on my own, my kid sister is a h4x0r.
Re:First for /. ? (Score:3)
Congradulations. You get it. You understand the "bazaar" form of open source software development.
To answer your question I would say that no, this isn't the first time that a solution was ferited out here on slashdot(/.)
Perhaps this particular solution was solved a little faster than others(it was easy:), but everyday people pose questions and get results.
The realtime moderation system here on /. allows the truly insightful and informative responses to instantly be subjected to peer review around the world, and float to the top. Where else can an engineer judge there thoughts and ideas so quickly?
Just as an example, the current top story [slashdot.org] on /. talks about game software, and a persons ability to cheat at that game if the source code is open sourced. Someone, somewhere has worked through this problem before, and in less than an hour, there have been 4 (Score:5) responses to the story(including the actual guy writing the software being debated.)(see here:1 [slashdot.org] 2 [slashdot.org] 3 [slashdot.org] 4 [slashdot.org]).
This kind of peer review and moderations without censorship allows the best ideas to flurrish, and all the other ideas to keep flowing.
_________________________
This is all about software, isn't it? (Score:1)
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:1)
Here I am sitting on 5 fresh moderator points and I can't crank this up beyond where it already is. Damn! That was a truly cool thing you did for the users. If M$ doesn't backfill your coffers, I have to believe the community will. The PR you
just generated is priceless!
Re:noobbies, poobies, emailies, and illitereracies (Score:1)
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:1)
Why didn't HOTMAIL staff fix this already (Score:1)
Re:"Linux user pays past-due Microsoft bill" (Score:1)
CY
Re:Yahoo mail seems almost too good. Should I worr (Score:1)
Problems have since disappeared.
Start Mail - www.start.com.au (Score:1)
It may be an
Re:"Linux user pays past-due Microsoft bill" (Score:2)
I just got off the phone with a reported from the merc news. I filled him in on the details of the story and put him in contact with Michael Chaney to confirm the details.
If all goes well, this will be a breaking story on GMSV tomarrow.
and remember, you heard it on /. first!!
_________________________
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
For business purposes I also use webmail, and my choice is HushMail, the encrypted alternative. It runs entirely in Java, so you don't get the lag normal HTML gives you.
Btw, does anyone have a good, and FREE, webmail package for apache to recommend?
-dag
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:1)
hushmail.com - finally, a reason to enable Java. :)
Seriously, I like it a lot because of the strong encryption that's transparent enough for my mother to use. (So far I haven't had any problems using it either.) I haven't heard of any other encryption-oriented webmail places, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere.
Uhh .. (Score:1)
Re:"Linux user pays past-due Microsoft bill" (Score:4)
On The Other Hand... (Score:2)
"Always on" static internet connections, like cable modems and DSL are on the increase. Running your own SMTP server at home is becoming a more viable option for a lot of people.
---
Ah, I love it when I plan comes together (Score:2)
You see, those adds for people with Linux/BSD skills were not only filled by zealots, but by full-fledged UNIX-guerrillas! Don't worry folks, everything's going to plan. Soon enough, we'll have the whole MS compound sealed off, then we'll move in for the kill -9...
Possible publicity stunt? (Score:3)
Microsoft purposefully takes down Hotmail, and then blames in on the crappyness of FreeBSD? Then slam FreeBSD big time and replace it with a Windows NT solution they just happen to have waiting in the wings.
Ooooooohhh. Conspiracy I say. What do they have to lose if they do this? They get to slam FreeBSD and promote Windows NT all at the same time. And its fairly clear that most people don't really care if Hotmail goes down for a little bit anyways, nor care if its secure. (I'm thinking about the security problem they had a while back.)
I just thought I'd share that nice juicy rumour I heard from my friend who works over at Hotmail and is involved in the decission making process. (He will of course go unamed and I will not provide anything to back up my claims.)
But remember: don't blame things on stupidity and incompetence when you can blame things on conspiracy. Or is it the other way around? :)
Oh, and I'm not dissing FreeBSD. I like it. So blah.
dig @a.root-servers.net passport.com (8:30am PST) (Score:2)
Another Yahoo mail endorsement (Score:2)
They send you a little spam, but you can run it into a separate "bulk mail" mailbox and delete it all with a single click without ever even looking at it.
- Robin
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:2)
D
----
It works only via Microsoft messenger (Score:2)
Hrmm.
Re:uh, no (Score:2)
They should stop working in a few hours.
Pine anyone? (Score:2)
Re:NSI (Score:3)
I did a check on https://payments.networksolutions.com/
and they actually have an unpaid invoice.
Domain Name passport.com
Invoice Number 11395965
Amount Due $35.00
Billing Contact Information
Gudmundson , Carolyn
Phone: +1 (425) 882-xxx Fax: +1 (425) 936-7xxx
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond , WA 98052
UNITED STATES US
Hotmail isn't really down... (Score:4)
Hotmail really isn't down, it's only that the domain name returns a bad address. If you really need to log in, save the following as an HTML file on your computer and open it with a browser. Should work with any javascript-enabled browser. Tested with Netscape, IE, and Opera. Needless to say, that this is very insecure, and you shouldn't leave this file lying around.
---cut here---
<html>
<head>
<noscript>
<meta http-equiv=Refresh content="0; url=http://www.hotmail.com">
</noscript>
</head>
<body onload="document.pform.submit(); ">
<form name="pform" action="http://www.hotmail.com/cgi-bin/dologin" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="login" value="[yourlogin]">
<input type="hidden" name="passwd" value="[yourpass]">
<input type="hidden" name="rru" value="/cgi-bin/folders">
<input type="hidden" name="js" value="yes">
</form>
</body>
</html>
---cut here---
--
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:2)
- HotPop [hotpop.com] - These give you a free POP3 and SMTP account, in exchange for "solicited mailings" (or basically, targeted and legal spam). The legal spam is infrequent, and the services is good. The only catch is that you must authenticate with POP before you mail out, which is a common anti-spam practice.
- Asian City Webmail [asiancityweb.com] - These give you a really nice webmail interface, along with a bunch of domains. I chose ramen.org.
- Netaddress [netaddress.com] - Just your average webmail. They also offer a POP3 account for a few bucks, which used to be free but undocumented. I haven't used them in a while, but they were good when I did.
Generally, Hotmail has been pretty good to me, but I only use it as a spam account. For real email, I use a POP3 account on a friend's box.--
Hotmail still down.... (Score:4)
Re:It works for me... (Score:2)
Re:Pine anyone? (Score:2)
First of all, there are more web browsers installed across the globe than instances of fetchmail and pine.
Secondly, for people who access email from a LOT of different locations (ie: me), like home, office, friends' homes, job locations, client locations, etc... it's a whole lot easier to be able to have your mail on the net, and not have to reconfigure every computer you're at... (a lot of my friends don't like that, and a lot of my clients AREN'T using *nix, pine, and fetchmail)
Lastly (that I can think of at least), Travelling. It's quite easy to be able to check mail from any computer store with a net connection. Not so easy to carry your DSL modem around with ya is it? Also (last I checked) impossible to take the service with you.
While POP3 may suit your needs better, there are lots of valid reasons why webmail makes sense to a lot of people, myself included.
This brings me to an interesting question. What sort of retaliation do consumers have against Hotmail. They're flakiness has kind of, well, increased as of late. I got my hotmail account before MS bought em, and haven't bothered to switch email addresses... However, since the service is free, what kind of protection do we have. We are subjected to their banner ads, so, in a sense we are 'paying' for their service (The more they're down, the more we pay), tho it is essentially a free service... I dunno, obviously, we can't demand our money back???? Class action maybe?
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:2)
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
Re:Blocking netscape? (Score:2)
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
Re:It works for me... (Score:4)
*EVERYTHING WILL BE DOWN*
THE APOCALYPSE IS NEAR.
Re:Please stop making up stories (Score:2)
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
Re:Decent webmail? (Score:2)
HotPOP is not currently accepting new users. Please try again at a later time.
Thank you.
You Can Still Access Your Email (Score:2)
Merry Xmas. Hope that I was of help.
PS: Does anyone know if slashdot cause this [cnet.com]?
It IS a DNS problem. (Score:2)
turns out that my lynx on the machine I run DNS on was not using itself for DNS
It is a DNS problem for lookups on lc2.law5.hotmail.passport.com
Alternative (Score:2)
Why Hotmail Is Down (Score:2)
The post you responded to not only has a URL to go to, but instructions on how to check the facts yourself.
Maybe you need it to be hyperlinked to make it easier for you so you don't have to strain yourself with cutting and pasting the URL into your browser.
Click here [networksolutions.com] and type passport.com. It will show that there is a $35 fee due on the domain name. Twit.
Re:"Linux user pays past-due Microsoft bill" (Score:4)
If you've indeed payed the bill, I beg you, please get a hold of someone in the media. This could be such a fantastic headline. and be sure to refer to yourself as a linux user. please please. If you really payed it. use the publicity.
_________________________
Straight from the source... (Score:2)
I hope all of you Linux-loving, Windows-hating, console-using, hackers are happy. I've run out of money, and can't afford the passport domain any longer at this time.
You may wonder why the richest man in the world can't afford it right??? Well, you remember that email I sent out regarding our email tracking software??? Well, needless to say, more people actually believed it than I thought would. It actually got onto our Hotmail servers, and seemed to take a life of its own from there. Nobody had to forward it, it just 'spread'.
Anyway, after having paid out to all recipients and forwarders of the email, I'm a little short. It seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Oh well, if nothing else, this is a great excuse to finally scrap those blasted BSD servers, and put in Windows 2000 Premium. You thought service was bad now??? Muwaahahahahahahaaaa........
This is not the last of me...
Sincerely,
Bill Gates
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:2)
Re:Suspicious! (Score:2)
As for e-mailing without having Hotmail available, damn near every ISP on earth gives you a free e-mail account, and I have probably 10 web-based ones as well...
MyRealBox.com (Score:3)
Generous Linux user pays past-due domain fee (Score:2)
Also earge(mailto:mdchaney@doublewide.net) Michael to contact someone in the media regarding this story. It would make a wonderful headline.
"Generous Linux user pays past-due domain fee"
..the list goes on. .
"Bill Gates recieves charity from generous Linux user"
"Worlds richest man doesn't pay his bills"
_________________________
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:5)
----
Your transaction was successful. Payment has been posted for the domain.
-----------------------------------------------
Details of your transaction are given below. You may print this page for future reference.
Card Type: MASTERCARD
Card Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Amount Charged (USD): 35.00
Approval Code: A 00 074598 MCCJ5QTM5 12250001 Y Y
-----------------------------------------------
List of Domains
Count Domain Name Invoice Number Amount Due
1 passport.com 11395965 35.00
-----------------------------------------------
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Re:Pine anyone? (Score:2)
I use fetchmail, but I have never cared much for pine or elm (I use the good old fashioned command line mail reader). The other thing I use yahoo mail for occasionally is reading email when I am on vacation and happen to be able to find a kiosk with a web browser. I did that at EPCOT this spring when I was vacationing in Florida. Now that I have DSL I will probably set up my own webmail access on my local web server, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.
Webmail is so slow anyhow. I don't know why people bother.
I use yahoo mail mostly so I can have an email address that isn't so easily traceable directly to me like if I gave out my pop box at my ISP or an email address to one of my home boxes on DSL.
It's not any easier that configuring fetchmail and pine, which is probalby quicker than signing up for crappy webmail service, and the only limit on your mailbox size is your HD.
I've never had problems with filling up my yahoo mail box, then again, I don't use it for a lot of really important stuff.
Flipping web mail. Educate people so they can run their own MX if they want. Long live DSL! Long live Sendmail! It aint that hard, honest guv.
It's not easy/hard that is the deal for me. Web mail fills a certain set of niches that are different from what I use my local mail service for.
Webmail... the future of mail ? :/ (Score:3)
Five years ago, when I began using the Internet, only pop3 mail was available. These pop3 accounts were quite costy, but they worked. My university "gave" me my first pop3 mail for free, though.
Then, several companies began to give pop3 accounts for free, in exchange of some data for their files. They were slightly slower than those costy accounts (the bandwith was very weak), but, hey... that was free.
Then came Hotmail & Co. Banners, ads, mail stored only on the servers, poor functionality (filters, and all 'advanced' functions of any pop3 mail client are missing). But above all, a phenomenal waste of bandwith due to the ads, the fact that everytime you want to consult a mail or your address book, the data must be reloaded, etc. I hate wasting bandwith. I hate when my mother checks her webmail on my computer !
With pop3 mail, sending a mail takes 3 or 4 KB for the entire process. How many KB does it take with webmail ?
Now, it's more or less impossible to find free pop3 accounts. Even Internet access provider begin to give webmail instead of real mail to their customers. Does it mean that, in a few years, every mail account will be a webmail account ?
P.S. : I can't understand why so many people believe that webmail is easier to use than pop3/imap mail. When traveling, it's so easy to use a simple telnet (every dumb Win95+ machine has a telnet client which works well with pine) or, even easier, a web gateway like Endymion MailMan [endymion.com]. Same layout than hotmail, without the ads !
Stéphane
And if you go look.. (Score:2)
Jeff
Re:Another Yahoo mail endorsement (Score:2)
Just a satisfied user.
Re:Hotmail still down.... (Score:2)
This might be interesting when everybody gets back from the holiday break.
Re:Possible publicity stunt? (Score:2)
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