For many it is exactly the same, but as often the appearance doesn´t say much about the contents. That is the same with MS Outlook and his „little brother” Outlook Express.

 

Both programs look similar and have partially the same basic functions, but this should not lead to the conclusion that Outlook Express is similar to MS Outlook. To clarify the similarities and differences of these two e-mail clients, we here display both programs in a summary.

 

 

Outlook Express

Outlook Express is free and was designed for home users, who dial in to the Internet via an Internet service provider (ISP). Outlook Express was developed from the programs Microsoft Internet Mail and News and is the default messaging client in MS Office 98 for Macintosh.

 

Outlook Express is based on open Internet standards such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol), etc.

 

Outlook Express is a simple e-mail program with address management. Additionally Outlook Express can be used as a news reader for the Usenet. The Usenet is the area in the Internet which contains thousands of discussion forums. Here you can discuss topics with like-minded people by e-mailing to virtual “bulletin boards“ (newsgroups).

 

Outlook Express cannot be connected to an Exchange Server as a client and is not able to function as a Task manager.

 

Since Windows XP, Outlook Express is called Windows Live Mail Desktop and Windows Mail and Windows contacts for Vista.

 

 

MS Outlook

Outlook is the default messaging client from Microsoft. Unlike Outlook Express Outlook is with costs.

 

With Outlook the user is able to receive E-Mail messages from multiple E-Mail accounts, coordinate personal and group – specific calendars and manage contacts and tasks. Effective Inbox rules enable you to filter and organize your E-Mails.

 

The complete integration of E-Mail, calendaring and contact management make Outlook the ideal e-mail client.

 

Together with an Exchange server Outlook the information, workflow communications, group scheduling, public folders, forms, etc. can be accessed via a common group.

 

Outlook integrates in its functionality tools such as Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Schedule, Lotus Organizer, NetManage ECCO, OneNote, etc. Meanwhile Outlook allows also the synchronization with the most important personal digital assistants (PDAs), such as 3 com Palm Pilot or Iphone.

 

 

Features of Outlook and Outlook Express

 

Outlook

- Send and receive E-Mail
- Manage E-Mail
- Management of multiple E-mail accounts (since XP)
- Rules for incoming E-Mail
- Rules for outgoing E-Mail
- Connection to Exchange Server
- Cooperation with Office (Word, Excel etc.)
- Automatic archiving
- Time management
- Meeting plan
- Task Management
- Notes
- Data export to other programs
- Re-tabling Items

 

Outlook Express

- Send and receive E-Mail
- Manage E-Mail
- Management of multiple E-mail accounts (since XP)
- Rules for incoming E-Mail

 

 

When should I use which E-Mail Client

When choosing between Outlook and Outlook Express various criteria should be considered:

 

Outlook Express

Only e-mail and newsgroup functionality is required.

If Office 98 for Macintosh is used or should be used Outlook Express is the default e-mail client.

MS Outlook

More functions, in addition to the e-mail and newsgroup features, are needed. For example: personal calendar, groups and scheduling, task and contact management.

Platform crossing E-mail and Calendar clients for newer and older Windows versions than Microsoft Windows 95 or Macintosh are needed.

Office versions from Office 97 until Office 2007 or Exchange Server should be used. In this case Outlook offers the best integration.

 

 

For all questions about Data synchronization visit the SYNCING.NET homepage.