Windows Live Spaces is a free Microsoft service that has a blog option in its feature called “Spaces.” Their blog tool is comparable to what Yahoo and AOL offer. It is a basic blog tool added into a personal page that may also include things like pictures, a profile, links, friend lists and so on.

Spaces is easy to use, but the blog module is just a part of a personal page. So when you set up the “theme” or appearance it is for the personal page entire, not just the blog. Adding a post is easy and you can add images, links and familiar MSN emoticons. You can also compose your entries in HTML.

In terms of publicity and tracking, this service supports trackbacks, relates views and notifies ping servers. Readers can also subscribe to your blog via RSS or Atom feeds.

This site offers private, public and protected blogs. So if you only want those on your friends list or (friends of friends) to view your page you can do that, or you can keep it personal. For convenience you can post to your blog through IM or an email enabled cellphone.

Setting up a personal page or “space” through Windows Live Spaces is easy and a good choice for beginners or even kids, since you can easily limit page access. However, it offers few advanced features for serious bloggers.