Using windows live messenger to manage my Verizon.net (pop3) email in windows 8.... It is taking, on average 30 minutes to receive my messages. Is this normal?
Nope. Unless there is really a lot of messages to download. If You are keeping a lot of messages in your Online Inbox it also might be slow, but 30 minutes sounds way to high.
This depends on your ISP connection speed. If you have Fios, the slowest speed thay have is 15.0/5.0, it is not normal.
