Just bought a new laptop that only has a basic version of windows 7 installed. As far as I can tell there’s no email software installed. Are there any good free programs out there?

thunderbird

gmail?

Windows Live Mail works just fine
http://explore.live.com/windows-live-mail?os=other

or Thunderbird if you dislike MS

The benefit of the MS product is that it will work with the Windows search.

Thunderbird
Evolution

Live Mail is Windows 7’s version of Outlook Express. You just need to download it, it’s not present by default. It’s part of Live Essentials (with Messenger et al), or you can download it separately as above.

wow thanks for the speedy response

you do worse than try poco mail

thunderbird

+1 for thunderbird – used it for 5 years plus on windows and linux.

gmail is web based and easily accessible from both web browser and android phone.

No experience of evolution but know people who speak well of it.

use thunderbird to imap your gmail, win win