Outlook Express?

[Rapier]

Why does anyone bother with Outlook Express? I never did and I thank my lucky stars.

[DrZaius]

Hi Michael,

What's wrong with Outlook Express? I've always used it as my e-mail client and I've never had any problems with it, not to mention that it's free and is updated along side with Internet Explorer.

If you are referring to problems from viruses and attachments, then it's not really a problem if you use common sense and a good anti-virus program.

[HAL9000]

Outlook has vuneralbilites with e-mail viruses, but like anything else, if you keep it updated and take proper precautions such as running a virus scanner, not opening unknown attachments, or even running ZA which will rename suspicious attachements, there shouldn't be any problem. The latest version of Outlook will allow you to shut down downloads of attachents as well. Personally, I've never had any problem with it.

[glc]

Why do people bother? I would say that 90% of Outhouse Express users use it "because it came on the computer". I sure don't. I've been using Pegasus since the Win 3.1 days and have no need or desire to switch.

[HAL9000]

You probably have me busted there George. I just can't be bothered to load something else and unless "Outhouse" gives me grief in some form, I'll probably be too stubborn to change as well

[mhayes]

I as well use Outlook Express, as HAL stated if you keep things up to date including your virus scanner, firewall and common sense then you shouldn't have a problem.

[Lord Prism]

You're all right. It did come free, I'm used to it, and I like that. NEVER had a problem with it, never had to install another email software, and it's easy to use and customizable.

It works great!

Of course, I'm also using a virus scanner that filters everything and a firewall (cable modem ,you see...).

Cordially,

[Poirot]

am happy for those who find it no problem. have used Netscape for years and have had no problems whatsoever. Browser & mail are as one. (have had probs with browser, but none with mail). I have Outlook on my computer, have used it, and unhappy with it's performance. I nearly switched over once......but to find that Explorer and Outlook are the targets of most virus bugs has turned me off.
Am unhappy with both Explorer and Outlook, the way they are presented on screen, their options, their look, etc. JMHO

[SARGE]

I have it, don't use it, probably won't use it. I use Yahoo and SHE uses NS. ZoneAlarm and InoculateIt caught Sircam when using NS.

[RayH]

Outlook Express came with Windows. It works. Why should I try something else?

If I didn't like Microsoft products, I'd probably use another OS!

[SARGE]

I don't have to get bitten in the arse by a certain dog, if I've already been warned of the lurking danger. I just stay away from it. Sure, a chain link fence might help, but the dog could dig under it.

[nightsky]

My favorite forum. Here I was looking for help with 'Outlook Express' saw the title of this thread and smiled. Started reading and knew this thread needed my problem to redirect your focus
So Helllllp! How do I setup news server and news groups in using 'Outlook Express'? ISP is MSN and I found no mention about adding or using news groups??? Alas, ignorance is not bliss - although it keeps alot of people in business. lolol

[Xayd]

Dunno if you have to use your pass with MSN or not, but make sure you have the server addresses correct.

I also use the Netscape mail client. Went to the old 16 bit Eudora Pro for awhile, but came back to Netscape in the end.

I don't have any virus scanning software. Netscape's client gives you the details on each file and a prompt after you click on it to ask what to do with it, so if you're stupid enough to miss both warnings, you would've gotten a virus eventually anyways.

In fact I just got into this discussion at work last week. The company I work for (like so many others) is addicted to buying the latest and greatest crap from Microsoft to run their company as well, and apparently was concerned that I didn't use Outlook to get mail from their M$ Exchange mail server, because of quote- "the increased virus risk". Hmmm, and the so-called mouse clicking network admin seems to have gotten SirCam through his precious McAffee-protected Outlook 97 client by the looks of my inbox. Guess MCSE papers don't make ya a rocket scientist after all .

[Statica]

Other than the obvious virus & vulnerability issues with Outhouse there is one observation that you are probably well aware of... its bloated.

* OE eats up more resources than any other self respecting program out there
* The amt of space that OE uses to store mails is probably about 20 times as much as something like Eudora uses

[glc]

Outhouse Express's news client is also easy to use and comes with Windows - but if you use it and don't change the default configuration you will piss off 80% of the hard core news junkies in the groups - in M$'s infinite wisdom it posts HTML instead of plain text. I use Forte Agent - IMO the finest newsreader ever made and it's now 6 years old. You can get a free slimmed down version called Free Agent. It may not be as user friendly as Outhouse Express or Netscape's news client, but it's the closest to Unix which the hardcore uses and is VERY powerful if you can figure out how to set it up for your specific needs and preferences. I think Pegasus Mail, which I mentioned above, is the same concept in mail clients. Call me old school and call me stubborn, but I have absolutely NO use for M$ mail and news clients - and the ONLY reason IE is even on my system is it HAS to be for me to access Windows Update and my e-commerce website's admin pages - I browse with Opera and Netscape. Desktop/OS/Internet integration is a strong selling point for inexperienced users, but you won't ever learn how things actually work (if you even care to learn) and it leaves you open to security exploits up the yingyang. Best way to learn is install these selected free programs, read the help files thoroughly, and PLAY with them - that's how I learned. I know enough about IE/OE to be able to help my customers with the basics, but little more.

[nightsky]

What version of Opera are u using and y not use the email prog. that comes w/Opera? Y do u hav to use Netscape as well and what is your experience w/Netscape, what ver do u have of it now? I always just found it too confusing to setup Netscape, plugins, options and alike and i did try but IE was so easy I just became as familiar it, except I never did learn how to access news grps or use Ftp to read news grps, just got caughtup in the web. lol Personally I preferred Mosaic but w/ the race to so call improve html it got left behind. More and new is not always better. thanks

[glc]

I am using Opera 5.12 with the Sun java plugin and Netscape 4.78. I tried Netscape 6.0 and HATED it. I am not using the Opera email client because as I keep saying I have been using Pegasus for over 6 years now, I have 175 megs of stored mail and address books, I LIKE the program, and have NO need or desire to switch. Pegasus is my Windows default email client and has the simple MAPI and Wsendto extensions installed. I have never liked "3 Window" style emailers anyway. I keep Netscape because there are some sites that refuse to allow you on unless you have Netscape or IE. Yes, I know you can set Opera to report itself as Netscape 4.76 or IE5, but it's a matter of principle - I want to report myself as using Opera.