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so why use outlook?
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cmeagan656
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- Thread starter
- #4
Yeah, comparing Thunderbird to Outlook is kind of like comparing a stripped-down distro of Linux to Windows.
I'd like to find an Open Source alternative to Outlook that actually works as well as advertised, but I've not been able to. Most recently, I tried one called SpiceBird which is supposed to combine Thunderbird and some other stuff to be an "Outlook Replacement". Well, I downloaded, installed, tested a few times over a few days or week or so. Honestly, if I'm going to use a desktop app there, I'd rather use Outlook... or even Windows Mail/Live Mail for that matter.
Thunderbird works better than some things, but it can't touch Outlook, not in any way.
I'd like to find an Open Source alternative to Outlook that actually works as well as advertised, but I've not been able to. Most recently, I tried one called SpiceBird which is supposed to combine Thunderbird and some other stuff to be an "Outlook Replacement". Well, I downloaded, installed, tested a few times over a few days or week or so. Honestly, if I'm going to use a desktop app there, I'd rather use Outlook... or even Windows Mail/Live Mail for that matter.
Thunderbird works better than some things, but it can't touch Outlook, not in any way.
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- #7
Yes, apparently you've not used both very much. I mean, you could like one over the other, but in the basic core functions of email, as well as the "extras", there is really no competition. The only thing that Thunderbird has over Outlook is that it's free. Being it's open source, of course, anyone can add what they want to it, assuming they know how to do so, and have the time to do so. But that's just it, Outlook just works. Within reason, if you THINK it should be possible with an email program (and calendar) and associated, then it is. And if it isn't built in, you can build your own add-in with VBA.
It is possible for someone to like one or the other for their own personal reasons. However, there are reasons that Outlook is used by corporations, and it's not ALL about because it's what's most available. Microsoft has paid some very smart people to do some good work there.
Anyway, if you want to use Thunderbird instead, be my guest. I know I sometimes use it just b/c I want to... but generally speaking, if I just want to get the basic tasks of email and calendar type stuff done, I'll turn to Outlook every time - assuming I have it at my disposal.
I could go down a list of pros/cons - thought about it - but I honestly just don't want to take the time to put it all down. I know the differences from real world usage. Usage with one email account as well as multiple email accounts. But particularly how easy it is to do things like set reminders, put things on calendars and move stuff here or there, nothing and I mean nothing touches Outlook.
Sure I've run into problems with it, but let's get real here for a moment. What haven't you used in your entire life, that if you used it ENOUGH, you didn't find SOMETHING you didn't like. If there were no Outlook application, in all honesty, I'd stick with the web email applications if at all possible - such as Gmail. And if there were no Outlook, I don't think there'd be such as Thunderbird or Gmail's application, or Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. Sure there might be some, but Microsoft was the first to do a lot of things, and do them right, when it comes to email. If I've noticed anything of all the other applications, I've noticed that they tend to take M$'s ideas and copy them. Of course, M$ has copied ideas from other folks, not saying that. But they do have a tendency to put things together in such a way that people want to use them.
Well, I've gotta hush - wasting time.![[wink]](/data/assets/smilies/wink.gif "[wink] [wink]")
It is possible for someone to like one or the other for their own personal reasons. However, there are reasons that Outlook is used by corporations, and it's not ALL about because it's what's most available. Microsoft has paid some very smart people to do some good work there.
Anyway, if you want to use Thunderbird instead, be my guest. I know I sometimes use it just b/c I want to... but generally speaking, if I just want to get the basic tasks of email and calendar type stuff done, I'll turn to Outlook every time - assuming I have it at my disposal.
I could go down a list of pros/cons - thought about it - but I honestly just don't want to take the time to put it all down. I know the differences from real world usage. Usage with one email account as well as multiple email accounts. But particularly how easy it is to do things like set reminders, put things on calendars and move stuff here or there, nothing and I mean nothing touches Outlook.
Sure I've run into problems with it, but let's get real here for a moment. What haven't you used in your entire life, that if you used it ENOUGH, you didn't find SOMETHING you didn't like. If there were no Outlook application, in all honesty, I'd stick with the web email applications if at all possible - such as Gmail. And if there were no Outlook, I don't think there'd be such as Thunderbird or Gmail's application, or Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. Sure there might be some, but Microsoft was the first to do a lot of things, and do them right, when it comes to email. If I've noticed anything of all the other applications, I've noticed that they tend to take M$'s ideas and copy them. Of course, M$ has copied ideas from other folks, not saying that. But they do have a tendency to put things together in such a way that people want to use them.
Well, I've gotta hush - wasting time.
- Thread starter
- #9
kjv1611,
thank you for the discourse, but instead of that i was really hoping for something substantial on the pros/cons.
i have used Outlook since forever and Thunderbird for the past 4 years.
i guess i will still have to do my best to muddle along.
thank you for the discourse, but instead of that i was really hoping for something substantial on the pros/cons.
i have used Outlook since forever and Thunderbird for the past 4 years.
i guess i will still have to do my best to muddle along.
I'm sorry if you had a real question. I was unable to find any real question. More or less just an attempt at a debate as to which tool is better. By all means, if Thunderbird fits you better, stick with it; if not, and Outlook works better, stick with it.
You say you've used Outlook since forever, and Thunderbird for 4 years. You want someone else to do a pros/cons list. If you've used them both so extensively, why wouldn't you be the one to GIVE the pros/cons list? Just seems strange to me.
Either way, just use what fits your situation best.
You say you've used Outlook since forever, and Thunderbird for 4 years. You want someone else to do a pros/cons list. If you've used them both so extensively, why wouldn't you be the one to GIVE the pros/cons list? Just seems strange to me.
Either way, just use what fits your situation best.
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