Need to get to grips with Mail

Detroit_Waves · 18 Jan 2012 at 01:23

Hi Guys,

So although I'm not new to Macs, I am new to Mail. As it stands, I like the mail looks and works, I'm not having any real problems so to speak! I am however having trouble getting to grips with a few elements at the moment.

The main problem lies with my Hotmail account, which is my main account.

So, I use a PC at home for various tasks, I use my iPhone hen on the go, and now I use my Mac for most of my duties. I can access my email on my PC at hotmail.com, without any issue. I have my email set up on my iPhone also. These two cooperate flawlessly. If I read an email on one, move it delete it, anything, within seconds, it has updated this on the other.

However, when I throw mail into the equation, the same isn't happening, and I really need it to, and I can't figure out how to make it happen! When I read something on Mail, or delete it, move it, nothing happens on the PC or the iPhone. The same goes when I go anything on the iPhone or PC, whatever I have done doesn't show up on Mail. This is a huge issue, as I really need consistency between all three to be able to save the time going through everything again if I plan on using my Mac more often. The plan is to phase out the PC and using hotmail.com completely, if I can get the Mac and iPhone to do the same thing, and have hotmail.com updated if I ever desperately need to do it!

So...can I do this?

My other question, relates to sending an email from Mail. If I send one from my iPhone and hotmail.com, the receiver always see's my name as Jay (this is what everyone knows me as), however, when sent from Mail, the receiver see's Jason instead (My name, but not what I want to show up). Does anyone know how to change this too?

Thanks in advance!!

Dewotter · 18 Jan 2012 at 02:45

Sounds like Mail has set up Hotmail as a POP account. You can delete it, go into Contacts, Calendars and Contacts in System Preferences, and set it up as an Exchange account. If needed, the server address is m.hotmail.com

Detroit_Waves · 18 Jan 2012 at 03:34

Thanks for the advice!

I deleted the current account that was on mail. I set it up again as Exchange. When I opened mail up...I'm getting the following message.

'Unable to Connect

There may be a problem with the mail server or network. Verify the settings for account “Hotmail” or try again.

The server returned the error: The connection to host m.hotmail.com on port 443 failed.

Any advice?

GSXRMovistar · 18 Jan 2012 at 11:15

You can't access the hotmail exchange account (m.hotmail.com) from non-mobile devices. Its a massive PITA as I have everything syncing fine between ipad/iphone and then my iMac has to use the evil that is POP3.

All other free email providers (e.g. gmail) seem to offer exchange access but not hotmail, really annoying as I have a couple of legacy hotmail accounts I'd rather not lose access to.

PaulyD · 18 Jan 2012 at 13:08

I think what i'm going to do is forward all my old legacy hotmail email to another address that can use IMAP and just use that.

Though will eventually cut my loses and just move over to a decent provider and get rid of my hotmail address altogether.

Detroit_Waves · 18 Jan 2012 at 20:18

So..there is no way to do this with Mail at all?

I thought I would have absolutely no issues having hotmail running through mail and keeping updated with my iPhone too. This is a huge PITA. In fact, it has made Mail completely useless for me! Well thats that.

Unless there is away around this at all?

Why on Earth is this possible on a phone, but hasn't been made possible on an actual base system?

Also, just curious. What is a legacy hotmail account?

VaderDSL · 18 Jan 2012 at 20:32

It is not Mail that's the problem, it's hotmail not allowing access. They set it so that it will be accessible though mobile devices as imap but not through an OS, afaik only Windows Live Mail supports it. I may be wrong but this is a decision by Microsoft? or whoever runs the hotmail side if things.

Something to do with them allowing active sync? from mobiles or so I've read.

GSXRMovistar · 18 Jan 2012 at 20:35

Not a fault of Mail, just microsofts/hotmails choice not to allow access.

By leagacy I just meant a couple of hotmail accounts I've had for years but would prefer to move away from.

VaderDSL · 18 Jan 2012 at 20:39

I think PaulyD has the best option, forward all your hotmail emails, and have them accessed through imap through Mail.

I have the exact problem, I have a live address I use but I access through the web interface rather than Mail sadly due to microsofts decision to limit access from exchange/windows live mail

Detroit_Waves · 18 Jan 2012 at 21:03

I didn't mean for it to sound as if I was placing the blame with Mail, however, sadly due to the restrictions, it has made Mail redundant for me, as I'm in the same position. I have had my hotmail account for maybe 6 years, and so I can't do without it unfortunately.