Microsoft retreats on Hotmail interface changes

19.12.2008
Microsoft Thursday rolled back a recent change to Windows Live , more than a month after users had complained bitterly about a new interface the company debuted in September.

"We heard many users say that they had trouble navigating through Hotmail, especially if they had a smaller monitor," Microsoft's Hotmail team wrote on its . "We've decided to make a significant change in our product: Hotmail will scroll like classic Hotmail."

Hotmail users who logged on to the service also received a message alerting them to the change. "We've changed the way that scrolling works for users who have the reading pane turned off. It'll look more like Classic Hotmail if your reading pane is off," the message read.

had complained about the new interface on earlier blog entries by the Hotmail developers, upset over the interface redesign and angry about glitches that prevented them from reading their mail. Some also dinged Hotmail's new look and navigation.

"Everything seems to take up more space on the page," wrote an anonymous user in an early November comment. "I feel like I'm looking at a book in large print for old folks! Please put it back the way it was!"

Microsoft, however, stood its ground and said , or offer, as it once did, a so-called "classic" interface as well as the newer design. "We can't provide two fast, secure reliable experiences, so we have decided to just keep the new version," , lead program manager for Hotmail, said in a blog post Nov. 7.