Forum Discussion
New Outlook Issues
Your concerns are valid, and it is not uncommon for users to have strong reactions to changes that impact their workflow and user experience.
It is important for software companies to balance innovation and updates with the needs and preferences of their users. While companies like Microsoft often aim to streamline their applications and provide a consistent experience across different platforms, it is clear that not all users appreciate or benefit from these changes.
User feedback, like yours, plays a crucial role in shaping the direction of software development. If you're encountering issues or finding the new experience less productive, consider providing feedback through official channels, such as Microsoft's user feedback platforms, or contacting their customer support directly. Your feedback can contribute to future improvements and potentially influence how Microsoft addresses these concerns.
Remember that software companies strive to address the diverse needs of their user base, which can be a challenging task. Preferences vary, and while some users may appreciate the new web-based approach, others might find it less efficient for their specific use cases.
In the meantime, if the new experience is not meeting your needs, you might want to explore alternative tools or workflows that better align with your preferences and requirements. Additionally, staying updated with software releases and updates can sometimes reveal improvements or solutions to existing issues.
Thank you for your time and patience.
Your question is quite valid, and many users share similar sentiments about the changes in the new Outlook. The decision to overhaul a long-standing email client like Outlook can be attributed to several factors. Companies often aim to modernize their applications, align them with evolving technologies, and provide a consistent user experience across various platforms.
In Microsoft's case, the move towards a web-based approach may have been driven by the desire for a unified codebase that can be more efficiently maintained and updated. This can lead to quicker deployment of new features and updates. However, as we've seen, it may come at the expense of certain features and preferences that power users value.
It's essential to balance innovation with user needs, and sometimes, adjustments are made based on a broader vision for the software. Microsoft may be working towards a more integrated and universally accessible experience across devices and operating systems.
While these changes may not resonate with all users, providing feedback through official channels remains crucial. It helps software developers understand user preferences, address concerns, and refine their products over time.
In summary, the end goal may be a more streamlined, cross-platform, and continuously evolving email client. However, user feedback plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction of these developments.
The highlights are not intended as an excuse or embellishment on my part. I'm also a simple user like many others here. But there are points that we also emphasize in our work with our employees and colleagues.
Thank you for your patience and understanding
It's clear Microsoft is plowing ahead. this is clearly about making a product that is more cost effective and cross platform in the long run, and phasing out stand-alone software like Adobe. At least Adobe's model was better and while more expensive they can at least work and always have new features.
This was driven by bean counters and web developers that know little about how power users use your product to be MORE productive, .not the desire to make a BETTER product. It is universally hated. As an IT support leader, I am on the front lines, holding classes, showing people why the new version of office is better, and it's just the layout they need to adapt to, for a better more feature filled product.,that in the end they will love (like when "ribbons were introduced . This "product" has a new layout and LESS features, Major fail. Youre competing with yourself and losing. Got greedy and released way too soon. There is no payoff in switching to this in its current form. Managers will just create a group policy to substitute the new Outlook link for the local software just to keep the complaints down, I did.
The problem is, You tied my hands behind my back. I have my CFO asking i we should switch to Google. How do I answer that? Withe new Outlook, I can't show them how to use features they've lost.
brianbir570A I certainly empathize with your struggle there. But I would also point out that Google, while being a provider of email, also don’t provide an email client. They provide only webmail. These aren’t the same thing.
One of the major problems with New Outlook, aside from missing features is that it is also not an email client. It essentially behaves like webmail. All email traffic flows through the Outlook server at Microsoft.
This isn’t much of a difference if Microsoft is your current email provider. But if your email service provider is Google or Yahoo, then your data will go through the Outlook server, where Microsoft will undoubtedly use the ‘anonymized’ data to train its copilot AI.
The other downside of Google as a service provider for productivity suite, is that its offerings are far weaker and less universal than Office. There are no desktop versions of their software.
My recommendation would be that when Microsoft forces New Outlook on the enterprise customer, look into a professional email client software to replace Outlook. I am looking at alternatives at this time.
"New" Outlook is a disaster. It trashed all my email accounts (6 IMAP accounts), and requires all the account settings to be re-entered. Worse still, it will not let you enter the IMAP settings as, when you enter anything other than port 993 it removes the server address and password. Any attempt to re-enter the correct details locks you in a mortal embrace that you cannot get out of.
Untested garbage that is best left alone. I cannot comment on the functionality as I was able to revert to Outlook 365 by creating a Gmail profile, which it did let me do, and then hitting the "Go Back" option on the top right, ie unslide the "try New Outlook" option. Fortunately all my email accounts were present and correct in the "Old" Outlook.
I am posting this in the hope that it may help someone who finds themselves in the same hole I was in!
In short, leave well alone!
SaliesBuzz I found it unusable. Was able to schedule a message (liked it's part of the send button) but could not verify it was there as no outbox folder . Also I like to use Outlook offline when traveling, write a bunch of emails out a ahead of time. New Outlook is clearly not designed for the business power user... It is a basic webapp, Very confusing forced transition that will be a nightmare for the helpdesk in any corporate environment, NOT READY FOR BETA!!!
Hi brianbir570A,
Here's an update on the features you mentioned:
- Microsoft saves the scheduled emails in the Draft folder to reduce the number of folders.
- The good news is the offline support is set to roll out in January 2024. I am looking forward to this feature as well.
- Starting March 2024, you'll be able to choose exactly how many days' worth of emails and attachments you want to download to your mobile device so you can always access them even when offline. (I hope I have this feature before I travel in mid-March.)
I hope this helps!
/Teresa
#traccreations4e 1/20/2024
