MS Outlook vs Enterouge for Mac

Posted:
in Mac Software edited January 2014
What is the difference between Outlook and Entourage for Mac? Does it still interface with the contacts and calendar like Outlook for Win does? My dad is looking to get a new laptop and the only program he heavily uses is Outlook, with automated meeting requests from his office and the like. Any help you can give me would be great as I've never used Entourage.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 19
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    Outlook and Entourage are two completely different and largely incompatible apps. At one time, in fact, Microsoft produced Outlook 2001 and Entourage 2001. Outlook 2001 was a one-trick albeit free pony that allowed MacOS 9 users to access the resources of Exchange servers and administer Exchange accounts. It still works. Outlook was not ported to MacOS X. The most certain way to access [email, calendar, and address book on] an Exchange server from within MacOS X is to use Entourage 2004. Unlike Outlook, however, Entourage cannot be used to manage your Exchange account. Also, Entourage's archive file format (*.rge) is incompatible with Outlook's *.pst files. Microsoft provides a migration utility that can read only Outlook 2001 (aka Outlook:mac) *.pst files. There is a workaround, but I think you get my point.
  • Reply 2 of 19
    brussellbrussell Posts: 9,812member
    Entourage is terrible with exchange servers, IMO. I just use the web interface. Unfortunately, if his main program is Outlook, I really can't recommend a Mac for him.
  • Reply 3 of 19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell


    Entourage is terrible with exchange servers, IMO. I just use the web interface. Unfortunately, if his main program is Outlook, I really can't recommend a Mac for him.



    That's what I was looking for. I didn't how how well they worked together. Thanks BRussell.
  • Reply 4 of 19
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,309moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell


    Entourage is terrible with exchange servers, IMO. I just use the web interface. Unfortunately, if his main program is Outlook, I really can't recommend a Mac for him.



    I wouldn't go that far. For one thing you can run Windows on a Mac so there's no problem. You can probably run outlook under Crossover and you definitely can in Parallels because my sister-in-law does.



    Just because Outlook doesn't work on OS X natively doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a Mac.
  • Reply 5 of 19
    Teaching my father to run Parallels or CrossOver when he wants to use Outlook would be more then difficult. I'll give him the information and see what he does.
  • Reply 6 of 19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jdcfsu


    Teaching my father to run Parallels or CrossOver when he wants to use Outlook would be more then difficult. I'll give him the information and see what he does.



    It is quite a catch 22, right. Well tell him the truth, but

    don't forget to mention iLife in a nice sentence, do you?
  • Reply 7 of 19
    I will wait until Office:mac 2007 comes out so I can see what Entourage is capable of before I decide Microsoft is doing what it can to hinder Macs coming into the office. Microsoft is going to charge people an arm and a leg for Vista Ultimate if users want to use Parallels or VMWare to avoid booting between Windows and OS X.
  • Reply 8 of 19
    Yeah, if you can avoid having to run Outlook in a VM, all the better. Having to switch back and forth is no fun and unless you have a healthy amount of RAM on your system, you're in for a performance headache.



    If you do end up using both Entourage and Outlook... When switching back and forth between Outlook (in virtual) and Entourage, fortunately, provided that your mail is stored server-side (i.e. if you're using an Exchange or IMAP account), you will not have to manually import sent and received mail from one app to the other - you'll see the same mail in both apps.



    With regard to differences between Outlook and Entourage -



    Entourage does not use .pst files, but either mbox or .rge files (you're choice). There's good reason to use .rge files over mbox though. I've written up the details here - How To Archive Entourage 2008 Mail using Multiple Identities



    Another feature of significance to note is the booking of resources isn't the same in between the two apps. Here's how you schedule a conference room in Entourage - How to reserve a conference room in Entourage 2008 Calendar
  • Reply 9 of 19
    taurontauron Posts: 911member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jdcfsu View Post


    What is the difference between Outlook and Entourage for Mac? Does it still interface with the contacts and calendar like Outlook for Win does? My dad is looking to get a new laptop and the only program he heavily uses is Outlook, with automated meeting requests from his office and the like. Any help you can give me would be great as I've never used Entourage.



    Neither: mail, calendar and address book is all you need and 100x better than those programs.
  • Reply 10 of 19
    talon8472talon8472 Posts: 149member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tauron View Post


    Neither: mail, calendar and address book is all you need and 100x better than those programs.



    You'll be right. But not right now. Right now, if the requirement is Outlook compatibility, Parallels or VMware is the best option - if you want to stay within the confines of the Mac experience. Otherwise Bootcamp.



    When Snow Leopard is released, this *probable* solve all your Outlook problems because then you can simple natively use OS X's built-in Mail, Calendar, and Address Book to manage your Exchange (Outlook) profiles. Without the choice between crappy Entourage or worse Outlook. Snow Leopard is planning on being released in September ( I think - might need to check the date on that ).



    ***Resist urges to go off on super hostile angry rant on Outlook, Entourage, and Exchange.... *( If it is an option, see if you can migrate your dad off Exchange dependence, if possible).
  • Reply 11 of 19
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tauron View Post


    Neither: mail, calendar and address book is all you need and 100x better than those programs.



    Well, that depends. All installations of Exchange server are unique. If your Exchange server is setup to allow Mail/iCal/Address Book, then great. If not, then Entourage may have to do.
  • Reply 12 of 19
    taurontauron Posts: 911member
    Oh I just love it when people give these excuses of "that is not an option because I have to use [insert MS piece of sh1t software here]". Why do you HAVE to use it? It obviously does not confer any added feature because as you said it yourself the software is broken so if using a broken POS is the feature you are looking for then good luck.
  • Reply 13 of 19
    talon8472talon8472 Posts: 149member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tauron View Post


    Oh I just love it when people give these excuses of "that is not an option because I have to use [insert MS piece of sh1t software here]". Why do you HAVE to use it? It obviously does not confer any added feature because as you said it yourself the software is broken so if using a broken POS is the feature you are looking for then good luck.



    You missed the point almost completely. If you are required to run it, probable in his father's case by his work, then by definition, he is *required* to run the software. Economic mobility is at a premium right now in this current economy, and it is foolish to suggest that he change jobs - people *require* money. And if that requirement means that some people are going to have to use MS software - then it has to be done. Sometimes people use said software because in turn, it makes money to feed the family. Which is considerable more important than using or not using POS software.
  • Reply 14 of 19
    hakujinhakujin Posts: 1member
    Oh I just love it when people give these blind assertions of how fantastic apple software is, when in actuality it is not necessarily...



    I would agree Entourage has some serious problems in an exchange server environment as I've heard it has nothing but problems there, esp errors with mailDAV. This is extremely short sighted of MS... almost inexcusable... makes me almost think it's a ham handed approach by MS to get folks to run a PC (they've done sillier things). Also the lack of .pst compatibility is sad... then again, they are not the same app and MS should do better to inform people of this. It's sort of a express meets outlook with lipstick and better usability, but less features (than latter).



    HOWEVER, Mail is an atrocious app; far too simplistic. No offense to anyone that prefers it but I genuinely dislike it with a passion. Such a lack of options. On the other hand, Entourage has outstanding transparency with gmail via IMAP... makes me wonder why the hell outlook 2007 isn't so good in this dept, what with its inability to lose the stupid 'junk email folder' (entourage can), purge settings which don't always work the way I like (entourage does), or the ability to copy client sent to gmail sent or client draft to outlook draft (entourage does).



    I like it so much now, I actually prefer it to Google Ofline (google gears). And now with SP1, it's really snappy. As a whole, Office 2008 for Mac is also HOT. iWork with all its polish, can't even begin to compare, sadly.., much like openoffice, but at least the latter is free.



    But mail? puh-lease. only iLife app I think more annoying is iPhoto in its lack of features... thank god there is finally Picasa for Mac. Sometimes I wonder what kool-aid some folks must be sippin' to advocate these two bare bones iLife apps... or address book for that matter; having tried both I prefer outlook 2k8 contacts management (moreso w/ business contact manager) SO much more to work with when you know what you're doing. If only there were a native ms activesync (i.e. not 3rd party) for mac, then I'd totally be set.



    If I were OP, I'd just run outlook in Crossover... mild performance hit or VM Fusion; dual boot is just too much of a PITA.
  • Reply 15 of 19
    chuckerchucker Posts: 5,089member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tauron View Post


    Neither: mail, calendar and address book is all you need and 100x better than those programs.



    It's "iCal", not "calendar". Also, Mail is still rather awful at handling large mailboxes. It has gotten better, but it's hardly "100x better".
  • Reply 16 of 19
    Need some help, using microsoft office 2008 i can send and receive mail but the mail that i send is not received. if i reply to a email the sender will receive my reply
  • Reply 17 of 19
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by randyjohnston View Post


    Need some help, using microsoft office 2008 i can send and receive mail but the mail that i send is not received. if i reply to a email the sender will receive my reply



    Millions of users including this one send and receive email via Entourage 2008 everyday. You have not given a hint about what your problem can possibly be. This is a forum of Mac fans, not psychics. Give some relevant information about your email account, network, servers, etc. Do you have success using other email clients from the same location. Help us help you.
  • Reply 18 of 19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post


    Millions of users including this one send and receive email via Entourage 2008 everyday. You have not given a hint about what your problem can possibly be. This is a forum of Mac fans, not psychics. Give some relevant information about your email account, network, servers, etc. Do you have success using other email clients from the same location. Help us help you.



    i can use my mac mail that works fine, email is @mac.com the set up in Entourage is correct. Im connected using Airport express that is connected to Verizon FiOS Internet
  • Reply 19 of 19
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by randyjohnston View Post


    i can use my mac mail that works fine, email is @mac.com the set up in Entourage is correct. Im connected using Airport express that is connected to Verizon FiOS Internet



    What changed just before things went bad?
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