I have been using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview since the launch at the end of February. To test more than just the regular Windows desktop, I’ve wanted to attempt using the built in applications like Mail and Calendar. Those two applications are of prime importance on my Android phone, so on Windows, I like to think they would be too.
The woes of Windows 8 Mail begin with the standardized login screen for all those Microsoft-metro apps.

This screen which insists on Microsoft credentials block some degree of my progress. Previously, I don’t think Live Mail needed any special accounts to the application. This has something to do with the new sync feature of Windows 8, where you can log in anywhere and everything will just be like it is at home. The screen prompts:
Sing in with a Microsoft account
Enter the Microsoft account you want to use with Mail, Calendar, People and Messaging.
Incidentally, I have an account I never use save for Live Messenger once in a blue moon. I don’t know what that password is by memory either since I use the wonderful LastPass – only the best security for email accounts, right? I open up the LastPass site editor via the vault and bring forth the details, and then copy right password right out like I do for other non-webapp apps on Windows.

Then back on the log in screen for Windows 8 Mail, I enter my Microsoft account username, which is of course is my email address, and then I go to the password box ready to paste in my very long and secure password. Except it does not paste. So I assume I waited too long and maybe it was cleared by LastPass for security reasons. I leave the metro side and copy the password again, and return, and try again. No difference.
It turns out that Windows 8 will keep the clipboard separate between the Windows 8 desktop and the Metro-interface. You know, to be secure and all – to prevent mischievous things from happening.
That’s ridiculous. In order to the use the Mail application on Windows 8, I need to have an intentionally short and memorable password just so I can log in a sync service I do not really intend on using. That’s absolutely unacceptable.