Enhanced performance, designed for simplicity – the new Outlook for Mac

Jessica_Wilczek thank you for the update and that customers/users have a platform to interact with Big Redmond.

I appreciate continuing development for the Mac platform, I really do. Now you know there's a "but" coming 😉

I'd advocate for a different approach, one that is known amongst Mac users. And that is the idea of "one task: one app". I won't lie: I like how Apple makes their own apps, they're simple and easy to use. "Less is more" is not only true for *NIX users but in my opinion also is a supportive concept for UI/UX. Since COVID-19 we're mostly working from home. The past few months our institution saw it fit to force the use of Microsoft apps only because of GDPR regulation. This rules out the use of Apple apps for Mail, Calendar, Tasks and Notes. What I love about those apps is that I can use them all together in one screen. In Outlook this has never been possible and looking at the preview, this won't be in the new version. When checking some e-mails to schedule an appointment and make notes is simply cumbersome in Outlook. I can't do this with the information displayed on screen next to each other.

I simply can't fathom why this is still the case with Outlook in 2020. I read that the Outlook for Mac experience is designed to look familiar for Mac users, but that's just it. It only looks familiair because of some icon, background and ribbon changes. The way it works is not what the average Mac user is known to. In this perspective, less is truly more in my opinion. I can be more effective, more productive while scheduling an appointment, while reading emails to support the appointment, while making notes in preparation for the appointment, all on the same screen in separate windows. I can't do that with Outlook.

And I know this is not the right place for Teams, but that app has the same idea as Outlook: "one app to rule them all". It's a UX mess in private chats, team chats in channels, files in a folder structure divided over separate teams you're a member of. Files can also be shared in private chats. When I'm working in/with Teams I click most of the time to find the information I need in chats, files scattered over the app. I'd advocate for the same approach: one task: one app. Keep files in Files, chats in Chats, teamspeak in Teams don't clutter it all over different places in one app. Please don't. I'm sure in 2020 you can come up with a better UX...

And to end with a smile: we all know how it ends up with "one to rule them all"