Outlook's 2029 Lifeline: Embrace or Avoid the New Outlook App?

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Thanks for watching! What do you think about the new Outlook for Windows? Let me know in the comments below.

[@anthonyansley3490]

My biggest issue with new Outlook is the lack of distribution lists. It wants to create a Teams team for any "distribution list" I want to create.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Could be wrong but I think Microsoft is deprecating distribution lists, so that might be why.

[@anthonyansley3490]

@@ThisWeekinIT But why!?! They still serve a great purpose. I don't need a formal Teams team (and the AD objects that that creates)...in fact, I used to work for a company that did not allow ad-hoc Teams teams to be created because they did not want their AD "mucked up" with groups that might not be used beyond a single short-term project. That means that I have to manually add all my recipients (could be 10s to 100s of recipients) every time I wanted to send an email to them.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

I think they are being replaced by Groups.

[@larrykehl5300]

Need 100% of incoming and outgoing email stored locally so i can access all emails when off-line. I get copies are on MS servers but historically (over 30 years) I've needed access to emails when lost connections or when I've needed to be off-line. So 6 months ago switched to Thunderbird and transferred all pst's (around 20) to Thunderbird folders using a third party app (forget name right now)

[@DelEngen]

What is the support for on-premises Exchange servers? What about Rules? How can I migrate my messages from an on-prem Exchange server to hosted Exchange without using a PST? Are nested folders supported? What about search folders? How many gmail accounts can I add simultaneously? Can I sort and group the views on folders individually?

[@justinmobile8112]

Too much missing from the new client. I had to switch back to classic because: - no support for HP Wolf security (probably relies on a COM addin) - no pinning shared mailboxes to favourites (this may have changed recently though) On a side note, signatures in general are very lacking atm even though the roaming feature has recently been added. It still lacks the easy ability of an administrator to set a company wide default enforced signature using AD meta data. Furthermore, bizarrely roaming signatures don't roam to the mobile version of Outlook, so not really roaming. 🤦‍♂️ Classic Outlook is like a swiss army knife, it has pretty much everything even if it does consume more memory.

[@ronmcdon01]

Could not care one bit less about the "new modern look and feel" if that comes at the price of large parts of the functionality missing from the old outlook .

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Fair enough. Not everyone needs all the functionality of the legacy client though.

[@dontown-lb5ke]

E-mail has come a long way since 1969. Yes, I was an alpha-tester for the ARPANET while I was in High school here in Vancouver, BC. I sent an "e-mail" to SFU in Burnaby, BC using a Telex machine hooked to an acoustic modem & a telephone hand-set. It has changed a lot in 55 yrs. I do like the new Outlook & Calendar.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Thanks for the comment. I’m glad it has your approval.

[@aspiringastronaut9992]

OMG - 3.5K subscribers? This channel should have hundreds of thousands.!!!

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Haha, thanks. It should 😊

[@aarbbee]

I tried it. And wend back after 1 hour. What ticked my off was the distorted look of Shared Mailboxes of M365. And no options for favourites for these mailboxes. Nice Update.

[@YusufMumtaz]

One major difference I noted: in the classic app, you had the integrated option to send an IMAP email to OneNote; this is not available in the new app.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Well spotted

[@wdhawkins]

I've been using the new client for about the same time you have, and on the whole, I like it too. However, what I miss from the old client, in addition to what you listed in the video is: tasks that repeat from task completion date (re-do) and fine-grain control of event reminders. Let's hope Microsoft has those features on the roadmap!

[@YAVcc]

I don't think I can disagree more with the video and the comments- I manage about 150 clients using Outlook; **one** of them likes the new 'simplified' Outlook. The rest universally hate it, and feel that it's very much a downgrade from the Classic windows application. I truly don't understand how the further dumbing down of the UI and features can be considered benefits- it's almost like MS is saying "why run windows, everything is a web app now". Note that I feel this way about almost all modern software; most of it has made major UI regressions (collapsing a menu bar down into a hamburger menu, or the opposite of expanding it into a giant multi-pane ribbon, plus the elimination of underused features, etc. Overall, I sort of get the feeling that the presenter loves the new Outlook and glosses over all the bad points. Maybe I'm just grumpy waiting for the weekend :D

[@ThisWeekinIT]

I do like the new Outlook. But it’s just my opinion. I prefer simple and streamlined UIs in general. But that does usually involve making some compromises.

[@CmoreChap]

Totally agree, its very noticeable to older folk like me who remember when physical sticky notes and calculators were a new thing. They are treating the PC more and more like a big phone, rather like the way first games consoles and then smart phone games had a 'dumbing' down on PC. Rather than make the most of the enhanced PC environment Devs are homogenising down to the 'thumb mashing', simple brained, swipe minded gen-z user.

[@YAVcc]

@@CmoreChap Agreed- I call it "The Dumbening". Everything collapsing into a hamburger or three dot menu, options being hidden or taken away... it's really sad.

[@markjones6807]

We use Shared mailbox’s and they do not surface as an additional mailbox with other mailboxes

[@ThisWeekinIT]

That seems like a significant con

[@marlasota]

Maybe in 2029 the "new" outlook will be usable and then I will switch to it

[@careersatabsslc5035]

My biggest concern is Tasks. Will it be around through 2029 as well?

[@johnshipman2100]

I've used Outlook, since it was Internet MAill, then as Outlook Express. I've tried the new Outlook, and don't like it as it sits. The main reason is that I cannot set the event reminders to times that I need, as they are all baked into the app. If Microsoft makes that happen then I will re look at it, as it fits nicely with the Outlook Lite app on my Android phone. PS Will subscribe

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Good point. Although I wonder how many people would need that ability.

[@wdhawkins]

I do!

[@Wolfpack517-u7i]

Many things like shared contact lists from things like iCloud don't currently work with the new Outlook app. I do agree the Microsoft Office version of Outlook is probably over-featured and bloated, but many 3rd party tools and services only integrate with the old app. I'd want to be sure a critical mass of support was there for new Outlook before I could switch over.

[@PeterFalkingham]

New client is also missing touch gestures - can't swipe to delete/flag like you can in windows mail (or apple mail using trackpad). I know not everyone uses touchscreen devices (though many people have nice trackpads now), but my goodness it makes sifting through email faster than this new version allows.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Hopefully touch support will come down the line.

[@PeterFalkingham]

@@ThisWeekinIT hopefully. Though I've been hoping for that and offline support (this app is useless on trains in tunnels or on planes) since the preview first dropped. Still no signs at all of touch coming.

[@markbrad123]

If they are going to make us use the new Outlook please add the Teams addin for creating meetings.

[@I_Mackenzie]

Had a client tell me that the Adobe PDF icon does not show in attachments in the new Outlook, even though it’s set as the default app for PDFs. Significant for her as she's been hacked in the past and looks for things that don’t look right. Not sure how to get the default app icon for this reset. Any help would be great?

[@ThisWeekinIT]

I see the Adobe icon in attachments in the new Outlook. Must be something wrong with the installation on her device.

[@I_Mackenzie]

@@ThisWeekinIT Interesting. Thanks.

[@martinwhite-td5tc]

my only issue is not being able to Favorite shared mailbox folders like a sharded inbox

[@ThisWeekinIT]

That feature is on the roadmap: www.microsoft.com/pt-pt/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=388913

[@pccpwsv3760]

I keep trying to switch to the new outlook and I just actually can’t. No templates destroys my productivity

[@aspiringastronaut9992]

Right click on email. Open new calendar event. Right click to paste email in to the event. Literally the only reason I still use "old" Outlook

[@ThisWeekinIT]

You can drag and drop emails onto the calendar in old Outlook?

[@gl5638]

No pst support??!! God help us.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Are you being ironic? 😊

[@gl5638]

No at all! For all the years i have used Wndows and all the times i have changed hardware/installations i would always carry the pst files with me and all the emails would be available instantly.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Pst files were the bane of my existence when I worked in IT. I can’t think of a situation where they are a good idea.

[@braddahl9928]

Very fast, pushing all accounts to icloud mail and working fine so far. Thanks for video

[@ThisWeekinIT]

You are welcome

[@JohnMerrill]

I really like the new outlook. I use full time now. Simpler and more pleasing to the eye. I like the way you can preview an attachment.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Totally agree!

[@GraysonZimmer]

I like a lot of things about it. I know it shouldn't matter but I hate using ugly software. It's 2024 and we deserve pretty things! That said, there are some features I'm missing. Templates were a BIG thing for me but over all, I like the new layout so much more that I'll try and find a work around. Also the calendar system is a little... clunky. It doesn't give me much reason for why my right click menu might be different depending on the event. I know why it's that way but it just feels like the worst part of the new Outlook client imo.

[@lilpandacub]

Good video, I subbed

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Thanks!

[@GamingPIPI]

The moment they bring this to MacOS is the moment I uninstall it🤣

[@callmeNeno]

How many versions of outlook are there , jeez so confusing. That is why I like Apple ecosystem for simplicity or even Google

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Full of bugs! Keeps launching extra copies, mail you have read (gmail) goes back to unread, deleted mail returns, Sent items are later found in the drafts folder... And you get ads.

[@ITDeptDTI]

very useful video, many thanks

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SantaOliva-u4q]

good sollution #softwarelegit

[@ozrob8726]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. All I want is a simple email application like Windows Mail. Why does everything have to come with bells and whistles? Not everybody wants (or needs) this. I also hate anything to do with the cloud for privacy reasons.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

I understand. But the cloud is where it's at. At least for many businesses.

[@A_D624]

Classic outlook is extremely slow my pc its not good at all. I am using rhe new outlook.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Glad it’s working well for you

[@SantaOliva-u4q]

nice #softwarelegit

[@theservant752]

avoid at all cost.

[@aspiringastronaut9992]

New Outlook for Mac is so ugly

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Does it look different from the Windows version?

[@aspiringastronaut9992]

yes its really hard to setup the views and the font sizes are weird @@ThisWeekinIT

[@PeterFalkingham]

@@ThisWeekinIT it does. Personally, I think it looks decent, but works less well. But yes, it's different.

[@Mudflap1110]

I stopped using everything Microsoft about 20 years ago. Linux and BSD is far better, safer and more stable/dependable than anything Microsoft makes(closed source or stolen and bastardized). Good luck...

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Good luck to you too!

[@JynxedKoma]

Old outlook is dogshit.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

It's had its day I think 😊

[@JynxedKoma]

@@ThisWeekinIT Agreed... I mean, when it comes to people who still use windows 95 or windows XP in businesses, I can kind of understand why... Since it's reliable and probably is the only OS that their equipment supports. But it's best to be out with the old and in with the new, especially in today's world where you can get a lot more done and for less time/money, meaning there's more space to do other more important things. Though that just leads into the whole "People don't want to be left without jobs" debate.

[@contrebombarde6950]

​@@JynxedKoma That's simply not accurate. Many businesses absolutely require COM add-ins for their LOB apps, and New Outlook's only option is Modern Add-ins. This would be welcome (much better deployment/maintenance/compatibility story)--if Modern Add-ins weren't garbage. Want to take an action on more than one item at a time? No, can't do that. Want integration points throughout the UI? Sorry. Want something performant that maintains state instead of a full refresh into a new pane? Can't do that. Want something that scales well into multiple add-ins instead of stacked add-ins, one after another on the right side? Not an option. Microsoft said there's lots of investment in Modern add-ins, but to back up that point, they have... nothing except the assertion. Until there's *actual demonstrated progress*, this is not a business solution, unless your business email needs are nothing more than what you could get with Gmail. There are many businesses that can get by with that. But it's an absolute myth that it's just antiquated, job-security-minded-IT, backwards-looking companies that require more.

[@ThisWeekinIT]

Good points. Sad to hear about the add-in story. I guess Microsoft will be forced to up its game if as you say, businesses simply can’t move away from classic Outlook.

[@CmoreChap]

New outlook is runny stinky poo too because Microsoft the dog's bottom of developers with zero consideration for Home users.

[@callmeNeno]

How many versions of outlook are there , jeez so confusing. That is why I like Apple ecosystem for simplicity or even Google