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So I go to register at Outlook.com...

1. Enter details with a short, simple email address. Submit the form;

2. Sign up fails. I provided an alternative email address but not a phone number; apparently both are required for password recovery (why?), despite there being no indication both fields are required. Grudgingly give up phone number and try again;

3. Sign up fails. Apparently my phone number isn't valid, and I have to delete the first digit (0 in the UK, to be replaced by +44) for the form to accept it. Try again;

4. Sign up fails. For some reason the form has kept all my other details but has decided to lose the month and year of my DOB. Re-enter those details and try again;

5. Sign up fails. I was presented with the same CAPTCHA for the first three attempts but apparently it's now changed; Enter new CAPTCHA and try again;

5. Sign up fails. Finally, the form tells me the short, simple email address I chose is taken. There was no indication when I entered the address;

6. Give up and forget about it.



They don't allow the password to have more than 16 characters as well.




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