outlook to entourage

[tomarge]

My sister is moving her files from her PC to an iBook with Entourage. She wants not only to move her contacts but her archived e-mails from Outlook to Entourage. Is this possible? Thanks.

[MisterMe]

Entourage can import data and settings from several Apple, Eudora, Microsoft, and Netscape apps. If you need to import Outlook settings, however, you are left high and dry. Microsoft provides an import mechanism for bringing over .pst files created by Outlook 2001 (for the Mac). This is done via a free app that is downloadable from the Microsoft website. Although Outlook 2001 can read Outlook:win files, the app does not allow you to convert Outlook files that were created on Windows. Word to the Wise: If you don't have an Exchange account, then you should drop Entourage like a bad habit.

[dmetzcher]

Originally Posted by MisterMe

Word to the Wise: If you don't have an Exchange account, then you should drop Entourage like a bad habit.

Why? Making a statement like that with no explanation may cause several novice users to ditch something for reasons that you might find compelling, but that they may not care about. Can you elaborate? While I don't typically rush to install Microsoft products on my Mac or PC, I do like Entourage, despite its little quirks. If you have a real reason that I should ditch it, I'd like to be more informed so I can decide. Thanks.

[MisterMe]

Admittedly, it is a a slow week. But a search of this forum will reveal that there are stretches when a new thread each day related to one or more problems with Entourage is created. I have participated in quite a few of these threads but never started one. What MacOS X users need is a port of Outlook, even if it is limited like the last version (Outlook 2001) to accessing Exchange servers exclusively. Instead, the Microsoft Business Unit foisted a bloated POS on its customers that is not terribly good at anything, but is bad at a lot of things.

Is there a reason why you should not use Entourage? Yes, there is. An email client has the primary purpose of delivering your mail from your mail server to your computer. In my experience, Exchange 2004 will conceal mail that Apple's MacOS X Mail client reveals to be on the server. If email is mission-critical to you, it is not safe to use Entourage exclusively. You need to run another mail client in parallel with Entourage to ensure that you are not missing important messages.

[dmetzcher]

Originally Posted by MisterMe

Admittedly, it is a a slow week. But a search of this forum will reveal that there are stretches when a new thread each day related to one or more problems with Entourage is created. I have participated in quite a few of these threads but never started one. What MacOS X users need is a port of Outlook, even if it is limited like the last version (Outlook 2001) to accessing Exchange servers exclusively. Instead, the Microsoft Business Unit foisted a bloated POS on its customers that is not terribly good at anything, but is bad at a lot of things.

Is there a reason why you should not use Entourage? Yes, there is. An email client has the primary purpose of delivering your mail from your mail server to your computer. In my experience, Exchange 2004 will conceal mail that Apple's MacOS X Mail client reveals to be on the server. If email is mission-critical to you, it is not safe to use Entourage exclusively. You need to run another mail client in parallel with Entourage to ensure that you are not missing important messages.

I don't connect to an Exchange server, but I haven't found Entourage to be a problem with anything, really. Frankly, I like the integrated task list functions, and calendar, though I think they could both be better. I also like that you can tie email into tasks, which can be tied into projects. In terms of delivering my mail across about 20 different accounts, it does a very good job, and the rules system for moving mail to various folders is also something that liked with Outlook back in the days when I used Outlook. I wish it had Spotlight support, and I wish it had smart folders, like Apple's Mail. I haven't given Mail enough real use to evaluate it, but, from what I saw, it seemed to be lacking some of the features that I liked in Entourage.

Some will argue that an email application should do one thing, and do it well, and that's deliver email. That's a valid point, but I tend to like an app with features that help me organize the many messages I receive daily. In most apps, I tend to only want one or a few features done perfectly, but with email, I expect a bit more. There are quirks with Entourage, but I cannot say that it has caused me problems. Perhaps you are referring to problems reported by people who have used it in conjunction with Exchange. I cannot speak to that, so I won't. I will say (and I can't believe that I find myself defending a Microsoft app) that it does what I want fairly well. I would like to see an update, and the two features listed above are high on my wish list. I would also like to see mail stored in files, rather than a database (for backing mail up more efficiently), but I doubt I'll see this in the near future, if ever.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by dmetzcher

....

Some will argue that an email application should do one thing, and do it well, and that's deliver email. That's a valid point, but I tend to like an app with features that help me organize the many messages I receive daily. In most apps, I tend to only want one or a few features done perfectly, but with email, I expect a bit more....

To each his own, I suppose. For me, an email program is supposed to deliver my email. If it doesn't, that is pretty much a dealbreaker. Do you have any idea how many messages you are sacrificing for the ability to organize the rest?

[barryrueger]

"Microsoft provides an import mechanism for bringing over .pst files created by Outlook 2001 (for the Mac). This is done via a free app that is downloadable from the Microsoft website. Although Outlook 2001 can read Outlook:win files, the app does not allow you to convert Outlook files that were created on Windows. "

This is the fiirst time that I had heard that Outlook files could be moved into Entourage in any sensible fashion. Certainly nothing in the Entourage help files suggests that it's possible. Does anyone have a URL for more info or the download, and can it also import an Outlook PST file from Windows?

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by barryrueger

.... and can it also import an Outlook PST file from Windows?

No.