New MSN Web Mail: Not-so-big Kahuna

MSN has a new Web mail interface in the works that, like Yahoo's, tries to bring standard desktop-client email features to the Web.



The new interface, called Kahuna, adds some useful features. There's a three-column layout with email folders on the left, the message list in the middle, and a new preview pane on the right. You can drag-and-drop messages into different folders, use keyboard shortcuts, and right-click for standard email options.



In a phone demo last week, MSN said Kahuna will also offer context-sensitive tips based on your actions: If it notices you're doing repetitive tasks that could be done more quickly using a new feature, for example, it will offer a tip about that feature.

But while Kahuna's incremental steps towards desktop-client functionality are welcome, there's no question that you're still using Web mail. For one thing, there are no internal scroll bars for the message list or the preview pane. To look at older messages, you still have to click an arrow. And to read a longer message, you have to use the browser's scroll bar to move the full page.

Forget about hiding or resizing the preview pane, and there's no real multi-tasking with tabs or even just new windows. If you're composing a new email, you can't check your inbox or another folder without finishing, or discarding, the message.

One last disappointment was that Kahuna only supports IE. I tried to use it with Firefox 1.0.7, but couldn't view any messages. An initial login screen said they'd be adding more browser support later.

Kahuna and Yahoo's new interface both use Ajax (asynchronous javascript and XML). But while Yahoo takes a leap in bringing a smooth new interface that really feels like a desktop client, Kahuna only takes a partial step. If I hadn't yet seen Yahoo's offering, I might be more impressed, but Kahuna pales in comparison.

Kahuna is currently in closed-invite beta. MSN said they expect to move to open beta in early spring.

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