Why So Many Cookies?

I've set my PC to notify for cookies. Just about every site I go to, asks to download one or two. Microsoft Hotmail wants to download 13, that's right, 13 cookies (5 + 6 + 2).
Can anybody give a reason/s why Ms finds it necessary to download so many cookies to my PC.

Thanks
/ H

 

The Microsoft Network (The MSN) is an example of a large cookie. After you select the options you want for your Web page, the server writes that information to your cookie to retrieve when you visit the page at a later time.

The Microsoft .NET Passport Web site (www.passport.com) or the Hotmail Web site (www.hotmail.com) is composed of several links requiring more than just a cookie. Any MSN site is a cookie monster.