New computer.

[Yorkie]

I used to use Outlook and still do use Explorer - they used to come bundled with Windows, but then as most will recall, Microsoft were held to be perpetuating a monopoly of e-mail and browser programs so were prevented by law from bundling those two programs with Win7 onwards, so as to give everyone a choice of other systems, which personally, I didn’t want anyway.

I had problems with Outlook for some reason when I went onto Win7, in that it wouldn't display some messages properly - they appeared in 'mime format', whatever that is, and made little sense. I therefore binned it and have since used Mozilla Thunderbird, which I get on well with. Their internet browser is 'Firefox' which - along with 'Safari' I use on an Apple Mac. Thunderbird can be downloaded free of charge from this link, and regularly updates:

http://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/thunderbird/

To quote from their website:

'Mozilla is a proudly non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the power of the Web in people’s hands. We’re a global community of users, contributors and developers working to innovate on your behalf. When you use Firefox, or any Mozilla product, you become a part of that community, helping us build a brighter future for the Web. Read the Mozilla Manifesto to learn even more about the values and principles that guide the pursuit of our mission'.

I know people enthuse about other operating systems (notably 'Linux') and other browsers and e-mail programs - many seeing themselves as crusaders against Bill Gates Empire, but I'm not a computer enthusiast - I'm a self-confessed numpty and want something that's simple. I get along fine with Win7 from MS, and Thunderbird from Mozilla, but I’m not enamoured by the prospect of Win8 because I think it’s more slanted towards tablets and touch screen technology than to desktops.

Some use Yahoo mail and hotmail - they all seem to follow a similar format and screen layout.

Unlike many, I’m not prejudiced against Microsoft or Bill Gates and I don't begrudge ‘lining Bill Gates pocket’ as much of it finds its way into the Bill and Melida Gates Foundation. Since 1994, the foundation has distributed $23 billion in grants to help people lead healthy, productive lives in more than 100 countries, providing sanitation, vaccines and agricultural development. But that’s a different story.

I’m forever being pestered to install ‘Google Chrome’ as my browser, which - if we aren’t careful, installs itself by default at many links when downloading other stuff from many sites such as radio manuals, unless you opt out of it. If I wanted it, I’d install it, but I don’t want to be force fed.

Just my views - I don't expect others to necessarily concur.