Paul asks: "I've never paid for a hotmail account but I have always been able to access mine through outlook. So my question... why download the
connector? I'd be afraid it would screw up my current ability to access hotmail through outlook."

Outlook (and Outlook Express) support HTTP access to Hotmail accounts. This is similar to using IMAP, where the messages are stored on the server and copies are brought down into the email client. It only supports email, not contacts or calendar.

The Outlook connector makes the Hotmail account act more like an Exchange server account, with copies of email, Calendar, and Contacts stored locally for offline access. If you use only email, then HTTP access is fine, but if you want to use your Hotmail contacts in Outlook or use the Hotmail
calendar, you need to use the connector.

Note that HTTP access is limited to older Hotmail accounts and is not supported by Vista's Mail. The Outlook connector will work with old and new accounts.