I use Windows Live mail. I can set my computer to use it as the "default" account, and then when I push "send in email" it will grab Live mail and off it goes. All my mail is stored ONLINE so if/when my computer crashes I dont lose my contacts, saved mail or special papers.

Windows 7 didn't come with outlook express and if you wish to continue to use outlook you will need the full version. I wasn't about to pay for it, so I went to live.com. it will also check your gmail, hotmail, or other mail that you have set up, so all you have to do is push one button and you get several emails checked at once. You can organize it so they are in categories on the side bar, so you know which piece of mail came from where.

My computer crashed a couple of times and it was so nice to have my contacts still there, or even to be able to go to live.com and check my mail from any computer.