There is free lunch...for three years!
The numerous and ceaseless debate on whether Apple's .Mac service is worth its US$99 a year, as compared to other web hosting options, has reached a definitive end, at least in my bold opinion.
1and1 Internet Inc. is promoting a 3-year hosting plan, with 500MB of web space and 50MB e-mail accounts ("s" because you get 50 of them) for one "no-price"--FREE! See how that compares to .Mac:
If you want to add extra storage to .Mac to match 1and1, you are looking at US$180 for web space and US$30 for each e-mail account, that's in addition to the US$99. Remember, 1and1 is free. Now you see why I am so bold in my assesment.
What is being offered at 1and1 isn't some crippled or ad-driven hosting normally imposed by other free online services. This one is a complete package, the real deal.
Sure, .Mac offers lots of extras and integration for OS X users, but 1and1 uses industry standard hosting and all the power that goes with it.
For members who feel restricted by .Mac's lack of server-side tools to host your weblog, an angelic entity, Wizbang, is donating its time and expertise to install Movable Type onto your 1and1 website. I already have mine done; you are looking at it, thanks to The King.