Why is the "New" Outlook for Windows client so awful...deliberately???

Anonymous
2024-02-26T17:21:00+00:00

While I believe I understand some of the reasoning behind the marginally improved "New" Outlook while lamenting the overall deprecated experience - namely, an effort to normalize the look and feel across the desktop, mobile and web versions - the path taken is regressive in nature, at least for those of us who've long relied upon the desktop variant to manage much of their eMail, task and scheduling affairs.

I've been comfortable with the working knowledge that detailed work associated with eMail, tasks and scheduling has been the province of the desktop client, while the mobile and web versions offered very functional and not as detailed abilities.

Now, after having lived with the "new" Outlook desktop client for months now, I can conclude that the 'improvements' to this client when compared to its current and soon former versions is far less capable and far more mobile/web like in function - overall, a deprecated experience.

One notable issue is the mere fact that one can seemingly no longer remove attachments directly from an eMail. While this may seem trivial to some, having attachments to eMail AND the ability to download same simply increases the already arduous task of managing one's documents, while increasing the overall storage footprint (since these could now be stored in at least two places), which could represent increased subscription costs over time.

Microsoft, PLEASE revisit this intended direction for the desktop client, and instead consider introducing some of the long-favored desktop client functions into the mobile and web variants, in turn genuinely introducing "new" functionality all around.

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-09-30T02:55:24+00:00

    The only ray of sunshine in this debacle is that prior to trying to change my Classic Outlook server settings as advised by my provider (which did not work) I did take the precaution of saving my .pst file, which my geek from Geeks2U (Australia) was able to use to retain my Classic Outlook.

    So I now have the shortcuts to the two Outlooks sitting side-by-side on my task bar. Classic Outlook does not connect to the internet of course, but critically it has all my old emails stored there. These are invaluable, because we are required to keep certain financial information for a minimum of 5 years, and I cannot guarantee that I have copied all critical attachments across to other folders outside Outlook.

    If you are reading this, and you're not absolutely certain that you know what you are doing, I recommend that you call in a geek to do the job for you. Yes it costs, but that's a darned sight cheaper in the long run than the stress cause by trying to do the job yourself.

    What Microsoft have gained by changing the storage of emails on their server rather than on the user's computer I don't know, except to intrude on our privacy, but, even if that has some benefit, why to change every aspect of the software itself beggars belief. It just reeks of change for change's sake. I have yet to find a single benefit in terms of usability.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-09-30T15:53:31+00:00

    Thanks. Very helpful

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-09-30T23:51:00+00:00

    Pleased that that was some use to you RonnieLDJ

    A simple question this time. How do I type an ellipsis (...)? In Classic Outlook it was produced by CTRL/ALT/. but that doesn't work with New Outlook. Is there a way other than three full-stops?

    Thank you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-10-01T04:42:04+00:00

    5 days into using this awful software...amongst other issues with it I have noted that the spam/junk filter has no flexibility whatsoever. Most of the spam messages I'm getting are from country code .jp - that is Japan - but there is no provision for blocking on country code, or for that matter on domain code, as there was in Classic Outlook.

    Why not Microsoft?

    And does anyone from Microsoft ever look at these topics of discussion, comment, and take the complaints on board?

    As I've said elsewhere, the worst Microsoft software release since Vista.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-10-01T09:40:49+00:00

    Nope, what they do it keep taking peoples money.

    If that stops, they ask why did you stop giving us money.

    Half my clients have expressed an openness to moving away from MS products as they have seen the new outlook.

    Thing is, if you do it the MS way there are some really good things in all the new tech but half the time we are trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole.

    What MS should have done is given everyone a tool to convert the peg first before redesigning the hole.

    As its really uncomfortable shoving that square peg in.

    My advice is if you don't like what's coming you'll have to let MS know by giving them the square peg and saying you try shoving that in your hole.

    Until then, someone else is getting my money.

    That's the only way they will listen, when the shareholders start kicking off.

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