Outlook Express dropped in 1996 as part of Internet Explorer 3 and came bundled with Windows 95 OSR2—basically Microsoft’s early shot at giving regular users a free, built-in email client. It looked and felt like a stripped-down version of the full Microsoft Outlook, but way lighter and perfect for dial-up days. You could send and receive emails, manage contacts, and even hop on Usenet newsgroups (remember those?). Version 4.0 hit in 1997 with IE 4, and 5.0 followed in '99—each version adding small upgrades without changing the simple vibe. It was baked into the daily routine for tons of users in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, before getting phased out by Windows Mail in Vista. Simple, free, and everywhere—Outlook Express was the email app for the everyman.