MSN Explorer Limited Web-Based Configuration Options Restrict Power Use Forrest Stroud
Limited Web-Based Configuration Options Restrict Power Use
Settings for MSN Explorer are changed over the Web, which means making modifications to your configuration options will take a bit more time than changing them locally would. You first contact the MSN Member Center and then determine the settings you want to change for any number of items like Web browsing, e-mail, online security and safety, your Web Favorites, your Buddies List, your MSN account, and more.
You won't find nearly as many configuration options as in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, but you will be able to customize most facets of the browser suite to meet your personal preferences. Power users looking for the ability to fine-tune their applications will likely prefer to stick with Internet Explorer.
E-mail settings that can be configured in the MSN Member Center include a Block Sender option for blocking delivery of e-mail from specific senders, an Inbox Protector for filtering out junk mail by placing it in a "Bulk Mail" folder, an option for adding a single default signature to all outgoing messages, and an option for saving a copy of outgoing e-mail to the "Sent Messages" folder.
Beginning users may find this paucity of options to be sufficient, but advanced users and those with multiple mail accounts will definitely need to stick with Outlook Express or a similar standalone mail client. As is the case with the e-mail settings, the settings for the MSN Messenger service and MSN Explorer Web browser offer only a subset of the settings available in their standalone counterparts.
Web browsing settings in MSN Explorer include connection settings, security level "zone" settings, accessibility settings, settings for customizing the "My Stuff" content tabs, the ability to delete temporary files stored in your Web cache, an option for changing your sign-in nickname and picture, and another option for remaining signed in to the MSN Messenger service after you close the MSN Explorer browser window in order to continue receiving alerts and instant messages.
