A Google Apps recommendation...
For many years I used a combination of Outlook for business emails and Yahoo for personal emails. I was pretty happy with the combination, and it fulfilled most of my email needs, especially when the Yahoo web interface get an overhaul and became more like Outlook with AJAX drag and drop functionality etc.
However about 9 months ago I decided to look into setting up an email system that could be used by the whole of my family (rather than use the disparate ISP/Web accounts we were all using). After doing some investigation I discovered that I could register a domain name and use Google Apps (i.e. GMail) to host it for free. This seemed an easy solution especially since I had my eye on an Android based phone that would automatically sync with Google Apps.
Setting up the Google Apps account couldn't have been easier - I registered a domain name, created a Google Apps Standard account (Note: It is a bit hard to find as Google try to persuade you to buy the premier version rather than the free standard version) and then followed the instructions to configure the DNS settings in the domain's control panel. I then configured accounts for all family members, and away we went... For existing mail, I configured Apps to connect via POP and download automatically.
9 months on and I couldn't be happier... the GMail interface isn't as slick as Yahoo's, but the threaded conversations and labelling system make it a pleasure to use. The shared calendars are good for family organisation, but the revelation has been Google Docs. This web based Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Presentation package, doesn't have all the frills of a desktop app (though new features are being introduced rapidly), but it is fast, accessible from anywhere and it is incredibly easy to share documents. It has started to wean us off Microsoft Office!
If you have a need for multiple/shared email accounts or collaboration tools then I highly recommend Google Apps. I would also recommend it for any small businesses - though I would suggest you check out the premier edition with its better support options and enhanced features.
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