Outlook is poor for those still on Windows Mail, Calendar, People apps by end of year (Legacy apps being killed off this month)

The Register ^ | Dec 3, 2024 | Richard Speed

[dayglored]

We're sure you'll learn to love the new Outlook for Windows app [not]

Microsoft is preparing to kill off the old Windows Mail, Calendar, and People apps by the end of this month and shift users to the Outlook for Windows app.

In November, Microsoft confirmed there would be no reprieve for the apps. It will be possible to export local emails, calendar events, and contacts that users have stored in Mail, Calendar, and People into the new Outlook up until December 31, 2024. After that, however, the ability to send or receive mail will be revoked.

"The new Outlook for Windows is for everyone. Now everyone with Windows gets the best of Outlook built into Windows for free," Microsoft said. AI is also on hand "to help you write impactful, clearer, mistake-free messages."

While it will continue to support "Classic" Outlook, Microsoft wants users to migrate to the new app. One user complained: "I don't need a bloated mail client. Mail and Calendar apps just work. If I need a more fully featured email client, I will just use the Office 365. [B]ut the 'new' Outlook is garbage."

Mail, or Windows Mail, was a follow-up to Outlook Express, so returning to the Outlook branding just might please some even if the implementation is not to everyone's taste. The People app arrived with Windows 8, and it has a confusing co-existence with Contacts, with both sharing some functionality.

The loss of People from Windows might trigger a few memories. Microsoft ditched the original Cardfile application, which was frequently used as a contact manager before the turn of the century. Schedule+ and Outlook Express eventually took over its contact management duties.

The new Outlook is web-based rather than a native Windows application. There is a marked difference in appearance and, according to some users, slower performance.

Still, switching between the old and new experiences had always been possible. Existing users of the three apps have mere weeks to go before either accepting the new Outlook or picking an alternative, such as Thunderbird or Vivaldi's email client. ®

[CatOwner]

It's a good time to migrate to Linux these days.

That's my plan. I'll probably be using Linux for full-time browsing and online accounts starting in early 2025. Linux has been on our backup PC for a while now. I figure this gives me time to get used to it before Win10 becomes EOL in October 2025.

[bobbo666]

Cloud based crappola is so, like Google/YouTube, they own your data.

As to apps, yee Gawds, use LibreOffice. It runs on every OSystem and is compatible with most everything else. Oh, and it is free.

F!@#$% M$.

[dayglored]

> Been using Thunderbird since v0.5, along with Firefox since v0.8. March 2004. 20 years now.

I started using Netscape Communicator -- Navigator, Mail, and Composer -- from the very beginnings in 1994 when it was Mosaic. I migrated from CompuServe and Spyglass as soon as I could; I'd been on CompuServer since the 1980's.

I've always preferred the Netscape application designs, and thankfully Firefox and Thunderbird (and Seamonkey) have largely maintained them.

[CatOwner]

Many of the applications I use on Win10 can be obtained for Linux. One application that can’t is TurboTax (not sure about the other tax preparation software packages). Of course, the solution people give for Linux users is to use the online version of TurboTax. And ... we’ve come full circle to cloud-based applications.

[Openurmind]

“How much money have you “paid” to the feral government over the years, only to get a smidgen of services and a cubic ton of abuse?”

You make a good point, and that is indeed true for most. But there is a difference between compulsory and free choice. Even with that topic I am a minimalist and contribute very little for those very reasons. I have learned to live fine with less so I don’t owe them anything.

Same with Operating systems. I can live without that “one” game to not have to worry about this mess. At some point priorities need to be set and practiced. At some point we have to stand our ground against it or it will enslave us. It already is because we didn’t when we should have.

[daniel1212]

I typically look for alternative to anything MS, except for the OS, and even then, to enhance and or "fix" it to make it more efficient, etc. As regards mail, https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/

https://www.wikihow.com/Set-up-Mozilla-Thunderbird

For a word processor, LibreOffice - Free and private office suite,

Image viewer: XnView MP/Classic

File search: https://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

Agent Ransack 2016 (for Win 7 or higher) can be downloaded from here:

Agent Ransack 2016 32/64 bit

In addition, most Windows users do not even know about the level of safe and free enhancements available, which they should find improve Windows despite MS upgrades which overall are negative as regards efficient functionality.

Like Open Shell, download Open Shell (click on Releases>Latest on middle right side) to replace the mobile device W/11 start menu, and there is Explorer Patcher that restores the Windows 11 taskbar to be exactly like Windows 10, while Windows 7+ Taskbar Tweaker (I am using the beta ver.) provides more customization.
Then there are the over 200 tweaks available in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 and now there is Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 for Windows 11 from the Windows club.

Add to this the many Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker and is Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus)

Composite image:

Linux distros themselves seem to copy the idea that sparse menus, spaced out icons, are best.
Thanks and glory be to God in Christ

[bitt]

p

[plain talk]

“Seems like most everything MS is becoming cloud-based.”

Yeah it is a generally trend that has been going on for years and is not limited to MS.

[dayglored]

Hi daniel1212, and once again, Thank You for another terrific, detailed, and useful comment!

We share a preference for placing a lot of information on the screen without tons of superfluous whitespace, large fonts, large spaced-out icons, etc. High-density "compact" display works just fine.

I generally assume that the modern predilection for excessive whitespace is to allow use on a touchscreen device with fat fingers. :-)

[Openurmind]

“One application that can’t is TurboTax”

This is because of a marketing agreement with Microsoft. As soon as it looks like folks are rebelling against Microsoft TurboTax will follow and provide a linux version. Bet on it.

Build a market and they will all come take advantage of that market. This includes developers of games and other software applications. But we have to create the market first.

[thinden]

it has refused to send an email, placing it in a to be sent file but not sending it. I wish Microsoft had just left old outlook alone, because it works and worked just fine.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

they have me locked down on sending out email, too

saying that I’m “over the daily limit” & “holding off to prevent spam until we get to know you better”

I’ve had my personal outlook account for over 20 years & use it for business or high personal only.. no memes nor article links

plus I’m a 360 subscriber

my pass word was “hateMS”, but they made me change it

[daniel1212]

We share a preference for placing a lot of information on the screen without tons of superfluous whitespace, large fonts, large spaced-out icons, etc. High-density "compact" display works just fine.

Yes, I suspect that there is a psychological reason for that. Why do MS designers think we would not want to see file extensions, or need to? And hide "copy to" etc.? Helicopter parenting?

I generally assume that the modern predilection for excessive whitespace is to allow use on a touchscreen device with fat fingers. :-)

Partly, and smartphones degraded the Internet. However, what of the sparsity of Linux menus, as Mint right click (not worth showing - Puppy is better) and Mint equivalent start Menu:

Versus (composite)

[null and void]

Outlook? Look out!

[null and void]

Now that Windows has totally gone to crap, I’m going back to Apple. Screw Microsoft.

Welcome back to the dark side.

Don't forget your free cookies...

[null and void]

my pass word was “hateMS”, but they made me change it

Is your new password "reallyhateMS"?

[wafflehouse]

if you dont hold it, you dont own it.

[wafflehouse]

why not give linux a try instead of paying Apple or Microsoft?

[Openurmind]

“saying that I’m “over the daily limit” & “holding off to prevent spam until we get to know you better”

This is like a car manufacturer telling you how much you are allowed to drive your car or what you can carry in that car after you buy it. This means that car perpetually belongs to the car manufacturer, not you.

How many would stand for this concept? Yet we allow MS to do that very same thing.

“my password was “hateMS”, but they made me change it”

Passwords are confidential and secret. If they claim to respect privacy and security then how did they know what it was? This means your PC passwords are theirs too. And they do not even own your machine.

[Jeff Chandler]

Your Windows 10 PC will no longer be supported after next October.

My main work comp is unable to be upgraded to W11. I will have to replace it before then.

[Jeff Chandler]

I recently discovered Libre Office

I've switched to Google Sheets and Google Docs. I like cloud-based products; they're accessible from any device.