"[Outlook Express] just sits where it is," said Dan Leach, lead product manager for Microsoft's information worker product management group. "The technology doesn't go away, but no new work is being done. It is consumer email in an early iteration, and our investment in the consumer space is now focused around Hotmail and MSN. That's where we're putting the emphasis in terms of new investment and new development work."
While Outlook Express has always been most popular with individual consumers, many business users have also utilised it, in part because it is part of its default Windows install. Microsoft executives are hoping those users will now switch to the full-blown Outlook client (and pay for an Office licence in the process).
"IMAP is just not a very rich protocol," Steve Conn, Exchange Server product manager, told ZDNet Australia during the company's Tech Ed conference. "The great majority of people used Outlook Express because they weren't on a LAN environment, and Outlook was just too fat for them."
The currently-in-beta Outlook 2003 client has much lower bandwidth requirements, he said. In May, Microsoft revealed that it was no longer planning to release standalone versions of Internet Explorer, which includes the Outlook Express functionality. Future releases will only be made available as part of the Windows platform.
Update: Microsoft has since altered its stance on the future of Outlook Express. Click here for more details.
Talkback
What a complete bunch of wankers these people are... First they screw over the browser competition, then drop their good email client in favour of the bloated and crappy Outlook, and they have the nerve to slag off IMAP, which is way better than MAPI ever was or will be.
<sarcasm>At least we'll always have Eudora.</sarcasm>
its not suprising to see microsoft "freebies" begin to dwindle here and there. With many people (including myself) drifting away from the idea of computers being "microsoft machines", and looking to other sensible and functional operating systems like Linux as a way of exploration and using a computer the way a user chooses to.
The future of computers is begining to settle. The industry has sold most of its ideas. There isn't any new jaw-dropping technology on the horizon for the home user.
I'm hoping that the point we are at now will be the same place in the future.
Windows shouldn't have to become a financial status symbol like a SUV or big house. It should be an option for the buyer to consider in their computing experience (no pun intended).
Time to switch to Linux? ;) Or at least try out some of the more internet compliant and safer (Outlook propagated viruses anyone?) clients out there.
I used Netscape/Mozilla mail and I am currently trying the beta of Mozilla Firebird.
On Linux, I use Evolution for mail which would look very familiar to former Outlook users.
Take a refreshing journey out of the Micro$oft dominated world and you may be pleasantly surprised! :)
Waiting for the day when everyone will use MSN and stop using that crappy virus called Linux
For those not running EXCHANGE servers, IMAP is indeed the best thing going! Server stored email that can be accessed via a network client or web browser that also survives workstation crashes...THAT is functionality.
Microsoft is either really out of touch with reality or they are just trying to make all non Exchange server options unappealing. Either way, Microsoft still isn't the answer and the Full blown Outlook/Exchange combo is a dog.
MS is going on with its pay-for-your internet software.
IE 7 will not be a reality, so for OE7.
This is a good news for computer security, but a bad news for lambda users who are again /screwed/ (sorry for this word, but it is the real one to use).
So, it would be a great news for true and good mail/news-client like TheBat!, Thunderbird, Foxmail (and many others)
Sad but true. In my experience OE has always been a better more reliable email client than Outlook, even the old Win16 version of Outlook Express.
Yet another reason to continue using Mozilla.
Well, it seems as if for yet another time in that last few months, Microsoft is basically begging for its users to swtich to other alternatives, such as Mozilla (much better than IE/OE), Linux, and yes, Mac OS X (I'm going to be switching to that myself in the near future).
I cannot see how Microsoft does not understand that they are basically hurting themselves. Apple, meanwhile, very recently has just begun providing first-class software with OS X for free, such as their improved Mail client and their new, highly-rated Safari browser. And on the other side, there is the Mozilla suite, which is quickly becoming a superior program to all MS alternatives.
I cannot wait to see what happens within a year or two with the virtual Microsoft monopoly. It will not surprise me if they lose a dramatic amount of marketshare in the OS, browser, and e-mail client world.
You guys are mistaken.
Wait...wasn't a large part of "the lawsuit" about IE being embedded in Windows OS???
What happened to all that?
It looks like Mcrosoft has decided to fleece its Outlook Express 6 customers. Now we will have to buy a MS licnese in order to use the new Outlook Cliente what ever that is.
It will be over bloated for home computer users who may have not enough free hard drive space to install and over bloated Outlook Cliente program.
One would think that Microsoft having $46 billikon in cash reserve does not need to take any more money away from its loyal customers.
Does this mean that Outlook Express will no longer be a part of the base install of future windows operating systems?
This is really a good new, after all. There will be a huge openning for MUA's that doesn't suck (www.mozilla.org)
ROFL
Exchange Server and Outlook are a very dangerous combination in the hands of the average mindless Microsoft admin.
Evolution, Sendmail. World Peace.
Who cares. Apple mail is a much much better program. I used to struggle with spam everyday when I used Outlook, not mention dealing with corrupted mailboxes. Since I've been using Mail for the last year and a half those problems are a distant memory.
Don't let the door hit you in the butt when you leave Microsoft!
Microsoft patches 'critical' Outlook, IE bugs
How often have we seen that headline? I guess if you spend as much time and money trying to get it right as Microsoft has, there comes a point where you just give up - and it appears they have. I think Bill is finding world domination a bit harder than he planned.
Who cares. Only retards use M$ products. They deserve whatever they get.
You can use IncrediMail!
IncrediMail is far more fun than OE.
This gives a very good chance to Ximian Evolution (try it. it is free. get it from ximian.com. works for linux. and is almost like OE) or Thunderbird (from mozilla.org for both win & liin)
Actually, I think my next computer will be a Mac. I'm getting so fed up with Microsoft and all their "diseases" (holes in their products that are dangerous and have to be "patched" constantly), that I'm ready for something new. Failing to support the only halfway decent email program they have is kind of the last straw for me.
Incredimail?
Fun for you, but not for the person on the receiving end.
Either they will not be able to display it properly or at all.
Plus the extra DL time if they are on dialup.
What perfect timing for Eudora 6.0 next month! The grand dame of email is back on the dance floor.
i have been told that the virus can enter your p c when wi ndows update is click if this is true why is microsoft still sending these updateds out to us
Thank you for your site.
I have WIN98 and Outlook Express and find them quite good.
The following remarks are inappropriate if Microsoft is about to abandon OE.
However the principles are quite good for easy use regarding SPAM and unwanted material. .....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
1. The facility to delete multiple emails via use of the CTRL/hold feature to highlight and then automatically remove these multiples should be extended to BlockingEmail Senders (and sometimes the Domain Name associated).
A right mouse click should give Options to Delete/Block/Block(Sender/Domain)...>>> Lewd Mail//Other undesirable mail.
This would mean much less time wasted getting rid of idiot mail which is so unproductive.
Unfortunately this might reduce business for companies doing this service commercially as a separate function.
Microsoft however is good at taking over these firms. It would also simplify the lives of Users and hopefully reduce their $ costs.
Could you please pass on these comments to Microsoft.
Sincerely,
MJS
Australia
I CANT GET THE OUTLOOK EXPRESS TOO WORK AT ALL
Lotus Notes R6 is still available <G>
TK
Maybe this is Microsoft's contribution to internet security? It'd be simpler to bundle a link to http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/ with Windows, rather than bothering with OE at all.
For the lady that said that only retards use Microsoft products - that'd be slander on a massively grand scale don't you think? And to use retard as an insult? Wow, you really do the Tech Support teams around the world a lot of favours don't you? To anyone who's not in Tech Support, we're not all cross that we didn't have the intelligence to produce the class of products that Microsoft have. Some of us are man enough to admit that without Microsoft, most of the Tech Support people around the globe wouldn't be where they are now.
Well why should anyone be surprised at this news that MS are to dump OE? as usual they show scant regard for the end user and in my opinion they do not and will not ever give a toss for the likes of us, unfortunately there is no alternative because that bloody Hotmail is just so crap that I would not even register with it, I wish they(MS) would crash out and give someone else a chance but I fear not so we are just stuck with it.
I cannot get any sense out of the help line for freeserve. can anyone tell me how I change my Outlook Express password??
Dear Microsoft,
How to run a business, Lesson 1;
Look after your customers and your customers will look after you.
Any business with the idea for all out profit and no consumer usability is on a quick road to ruin.
Outlook Express sucks. It works sometimes, and other times it don't. Time to fins another mail that can send pictures in.
Visit the MS website and click the "complaints" tab....can't find it, thought not. Crap operating system, crap support (SP2, f sake, why do I have to update all my drivers!!!) crap, just complete crap. Did I say it was crap? Wait 4 hours to download an MS update cos your server is shite, XP stops it after 2 hrs cos it doesn't think It's right.....what, that's for me to decide, you monopolising, money grabbing twats. Oh, by the way, leave the Arabs alone and find your own cheap oil, wankers!
its great!
>> How to run a business, Lesson 1;
Well Robert, with you being an accountant I'm sure you would agree that Microsoft as a business has the most money and customers on the entire planet. All the money gurus put Bill as the wealthiest man in the world...
I for one will gladly be a student on how Microsoft runs a business, as I know of NO other that has done is as well and successfull. Where I work and live, wealth or the lack of is the guage on how success is measured.