Ugh, I don't like Outlook that much.
I know it does more than, say, the Palm PDA functions, but they don't manage the extra power very well, and it's never very pleasant to use, IMO
Yeah, I have a lot of complaints about Outlook, too. But you just can't beat its integration and flexibility. I can keep a very sophisticated system of tasks, projects, appointments, associated people, and associated e-mails in a single application and synced between my home and office PCs with my Palm. No other tool I've seen can do that.
I guess. I've never been a big fan of integration like that.
And when I try to dig up old mail, a very frequent task, its search engine is so clunky that I seriously consider proposing that my company just use gmail for everything. (Yes I know how half-assed a thought that is, but still.)
I mean, Outlook can't even figure out, if I'm replying to an email FROM ME, I probably actually meant to send mail to the OTHER DAMN RECIPIENTS.
For really great integration, get a Mac. The Mail app is integrated with all the standard Mac apps. The best part, of course, is the separation of privileges, which prevents a virus, even a Mac specific virus, from rootkitting my box without my express permission. Unless you are willing to pay for a spyware scanner, a virus scanner, and a decent firewall program, Outlook is an unacceptablely large security problem.
I bet the Mac stuff is great, but I have to say, the Windows/Office solution gives me everything I want. My only reason to switch to Linux is to get out of "proprietary hell," but switching to Mac wouldn't do that for me.
Proprietary hell -- a very noble motivation for which I applaud you. Network computing is much like sexual relations, however. The friends who don't give you interesting viruses are the most appreciated.
For all the talk about MS's vulnerability to worms/viruses, I have <b>never</b> had a malware infection on one of my home PCs in 15 years of using Windows. By keeping the OS and apps patched, using up-to-date AV software, and being careful what you open, you can avoid just about everything.
Max, I would love to come over and audit your system, free of my usual security charge. Most rootkits are completely silent when a user is on the system. There is absolutely no profit in subverting a system if you advertise that you have done it.
I have <b> never</b> had a malware infection that made itself noticeable. I have had several that were only detectable by inspecting the system through multiple API's. Game much on your system? Ever download maps, skins, textures, models? Most games do a crap job of assuring the security of mods, buffer overflows abound.
Fun stuff, really and truly.
I mean, Outlook can't even figure out, if I'm replying to an email FROM ME, I probably actually meant to send mail to the OTHER DAMN RECIPIENTS.
Lotus Notes gets this wrong too.
Nope, I don't download game mods or other suspicious stuff. I'm quite careful with where I get my software. I use all of the security features offered by MS, along with a variety of third-party tools. Is it impossible that I have a rootkit installed? Of course not. Is it likely? Not even close.
I'm probably far too late to be any use here, but I believe Mozilla's Thunderbird is meant to be the OSS alternative to Outlook. It's less fussy than Evolution, too.