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
    2025-04-26T23:47:26+00:00

    Just in case anyone is interested - Microsoft certainly is not - I have moved all my correspondence over to Gmail and attached my gmail account to my Legacy Classic Outlook - a very simple procedure via "Add account." If you don't have a Legacy Classic Outlook remaining on your device, I am informed that there are free downloads available.

    As far as I can see, this is the only way of maintaining your sanity. Yes, it's a nuisance advising everyone of a new email address, but I can say in my case it is worth it! One or two things in gmail are annoying, but can be worked around, and Google has a good spam filter. And so far I have been able to use all of the Classic Outlook functions as I always could.

    Shortly I will be deleting my New Outlook account for ever, and never coming back. It is the biggest load of software rubbish ever produced. It's not worth Microsoft even tinkering with it, it is so bad.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-13T13:01:58+00:00

    I don't know if you noticed, but the answer looks suspiciously a lot like the answer an AI would give:

    1. The initial greeting trying to level with you (not sure what would be the purpose of it)
    2. The "Based on the information your provided" at the start of the second paragraph and what the supposed user understand and followed by a condescending statement "I understand this is a very frustrating.. blah blah blah", is a technique used frequently by psychologists to deal with irate individuals to either reduce the level of anger or as a preventive action.
    3. The list of workarounds.

    None of this acknowledges there's an issue with the product, nor take responsibility, instead the suggestions is just a way for Microsoft to say "we did help you didn't we?" but no promise of further review of the functionaltity or accountability. This is the product there is, suck it or leave it (worse of it, suck it might be your only option if, as they pointed out, the enforcing of the new outlook is by your organization)

    But my point, if you type your experience to ChatGPT or Gemini or Meta, it might be possible you get the same type of answer.

    Be aware, AI is the future (or even now the present) of support systems. A dead end that will be responsible for further frustrations from consumers that are forced to paid products and their derived flawed support systems, yes, AI is not free and someone will pay for it, even if it doesn't work as advertised.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-02T17:49:54+00:00

    Thanks for the info!

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-02T17:50:36+00:00

    Thanks for this info

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