Deserves more praise! (Outlook Express 5.5)

Member Name: richy77

Product:	Outlook Express 5.5
Date:	08/06/01 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use software with good tutorials, Free and regular updates, Not like other pieces of Microsoft software!

Disadvantages: Maybe the company puts people off, Some security issues in the past

I am a regular user of Outlook Express and I have to admit to being a fan of it. I can hear the cries now about how dare I like a Microsoft Product! I have been using Outlook Express for a couple of years now. It took me a while to get used to but now it is my favourite email package.

Outlook Express in my opinion is a very good email package that does all the jobs I want it to efficiently and effectively. The latest Outlook Express (5.5) which I am using at the moment seems to be the most reliable and safest of Microsoft Products. I hardly get any crashes/ lock ups when using Outlook Express and there are certainly no perculiar operations that occur.

Outlook Express has had it critics especially concerning security issues which came to light last year with a number of Visual Basic viruses. I hope that these issues have been sorted now and I am quite happy using Outlook Express as my main email programme.

Reasons why I like Outlook Express are :

1.) It is easy to setup email accounts. There is a wizard which takes you step by step through the process of adding email accounts. All the smtp settings and pop settings can be included relatively easily and quickly.

2.) Good use of newsgroups. I like looking on newsgroups and I find Outlook Express is easy to setup so that newsgroups can be read quickly. Outlook Express may no be the quickest programme for downloading messages from newsgroups but the layout and ease of use is certainly a benefit.

3.) Easy to setup hotmail accounts. This point explains itself really. Sometimes when I am working away it is essential to check email and outlook express allows you to access your hotmail accounts.

4.) Good Address Book facility. I like the way the address book is easily obtainable using Outlook Express. Adding people to your address book is done by a matter of right clicking on someones email address. Also the address book can be found quickly when writing emails.


5.) The layout. Outlook Express allows you to customise the layout so that it suits your needs. You can have certain folders opened automatically and have the address book displayed as default. It all helps to make you feel comfortable using the programme.

6.) One of my favourite facilities that I like with Outlook Express is the option to filter emails into certain folders and also block certain emails if you don't want to receive junk email. These facilities allow you to save time and only read emails that are important. If you have lots of junk mail you will now what a benefit this is!

Installation is very easy really. The installer does most of the work for you and it is hassle free. Upgrading to different version is also very easy and emails and data are migrated without any problems at all.

Overall Outlook Express is a very user friendly piece of software. It is available from lots of places and even comes as standard with the latest version of Internet Explorer. You can also find it on the front of cover magazines. If you are after a good well established email programme then you could do a lot worse then trying Outlook Express. Don't be put off by the fact that it is a Microsoft package. The security issues seem to have been cleared up as well and the latest release (5.5) seems to be the best so far. Give it a try, you know you want to. It will make email checking a completely enjoyable task!

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