Getting a free web-based e-mail account

OK, here's the scoop: for this course, you'll need to get a free, web-based e-mail account (unless, of course, you already have one). but you should still find the info here to be relevant, and maybe even interesting. the 2 400-lb. gorillas in this arena are Hotmail and Yahoo.Mail. either one is fine, but if, like me, you don't want to join the Borg Collective, you'll go with someone other than Hotmail. ;-) these days, there are a lot of fine (and some funky) alternatives. check out the following list.

freemail provider	comments
hotmail	there *might* have been someone else with the free e-mail idea before hotmail (I vaguely recall Juno had something of the sort), but they were the first successful free e-mail provider. so successful that Microsoft snapped it up at the first opportunity. i like the interface--it works. (it used to be ghastly, but it's a lot better now.) reliability: above average (add comments here, if you like.)
yahoo.mail	yahoo has a slick interface, and i think they got it right the first time (by studying hotmail's initially rough site, obviously). if you have friends who have either/both yahoo.mail or hotmail, you'll know that the arguments over which one is better can rival the old Mac/PC debate. i've used both extensively, while traveling. in my experience, hotmail was a bit more reliable than yahoo (at least last October 1998). (comments here.)
commtouch	CommTouch focuses on "integrating services" and going global, offering free e-mail in 11 languages, with service in China. i don't know anyone with a commtouch account, but i don't know too many business types. looks serious, though. and pretty darn slick. they tout their privacy and security measures, and Y2K compliance. anyone care to try them? (report back if you do.)
mailcity	from a blurb on this site: "Lycos is packaging the WhoWhere services--free e-mail, free homepages, and the WhoWhere people finder--with Lycos search and Web guides. This 'community in a box' is designed to help sites build up return visits and generate revenues." sounds interesting, since you can do the free homepage thing as well. check it out, and... (let us know what you think.)
mail.com	wow. they got the "MAIL" domain name... i wonder how much they paid for that! anyway, here's what is said about them: "Mail.com is building a web-based e-mail app that does everything today's apps can. The idea is to offer something for nothing, but at some point people will pay for added functionality -- or vanity." interesting! still, i don't know if i want my e-mail client to do spreadsheets or grafix. heh. (check these guys out?)
chickmail and gurlmail	er, i just HAD to include some gender-specific e-mail providers. ;-) these gals have got their act straight, though. their sites are extremely slick and fun-looking. i'd get an address with them (just to see the actual interface), but i don't think i'll survive the catcalls and hoots from my friends if i did! so, any of you young women out there care to try either of these and let us know what you think? (check these gals out?)