From: Ellis Weiner (eweiner_at_nni.com)
Date: Sun Dec 02 2001 - 10:20:37 EST
>
Re Outlook: I'm still using the Norton Desktop for Windows (3.1!) calendar. I
tried to find a way to export the data to OUtlook when it came on my first Win 95
computer, but couldn't. Now I'm glad I didn't. It would mean hand-entering all
those items to any new program, and apparently this is enough for my needs. I also
did the same on this ThinkPad, running Win 98.
BTW, just a word of appreciation for all the smart people on this list, and
their willingness to help. It's invaluable.
Ellis Weiner
> ----------------------------------------
>
> I can't speak for anyone else - but here's why I'm using it.
> I was introduced to e-mail and the Internet 3 years ago at a time when I
> didn't know the first thing about Windows or any Windows software. I had been
> using DOS for years, and still pine for it, and felt completely at home in it.
> Windows to me was a frighteningly complex new world where for the first time I
> felt quite out of control of my computer, felt I didn't understand how it
> worked, and didn't trust the software - and I still largely feel that way. But
> it came with my new laptop, and I didn't see what choice I had but to use the
> software, especially if I wanted to do things like e-mail and the Internet.
> I started using Outlook Express, not having the faintest idea whether it
> was regarded as a good program or not - but secretly feeling that *no* Windows
> programs (whether Microsoft or not) were truly good.
> I've got so much e-mail in Outlook Express files now that I want to keep,
> and don't have the faintest idea how to convert it to any other format - either
> just text files, or the format for another e-mail program. As far as I can
> tell, Outlook Express doesn't have any functions for converting e-mail - I
> suppose because they don't want to help users switch to another program.
> That's why I am using Outlook Express. I often hear people's astonishment
> that anyone should be so silly as to use it - but I am astonished that it
> doesn't occur to people that the kind of reasons I just gave might be the reason
> many people keep using it. It's obvious to me that, due to circumstances,
> especially relating to decisions you made earlier on based on inadequate
> knowledge, you can get locked into using, and continuing to use, certain
> software, even if you absolutely hate it now.
> And, unless I somehow find a reliable way of converting my e-mail, I expect
> I will continue using it for as long as I continue using Windows at all. It's
> not because I think it's such a wonderful program: I think a lot of Microsoft
> stuff is rubbish, and using it often makes me feel as if I'm trying to walk on
> eggs without breaking them - but, for the reasons given above, I'm more or less
> locked into it for the forseeable future. And it's no good people telling me
> how unwise it is to use it. I agree - but I can't do anything about it until I
> know what to do.
> I'm thinking of trying Linux, and perhaps abandoning Windows altogether, or
> except for one or two things I want to use which need Windows. But I have to
> get another hard disk first, before I can look into that. And I don't know what
> kind to get either, so there are problems there, too. And I will still need to
> find a way of converting my files. At the least, it's a long-term prospect -
> not something I can do within the coming week, or even month.
>
> ----------------------------------------
> >The number of bugs in Outlook/Outlook Express has gone beyond
> >*ALL* reasonability. This software should not be used by anyone.
> ----------------------------------------
>
> I agree - in theory. But I have no choice at the moment, given my present
> situation.
> By the way, do you also feel that no-one should be using Windows, either?
>
> ----------------------------------------
> >Over the course of the last several years this software has cost
> >hundreds of millions of dollars in lost time and productivity, yet
> >there are people who still use it. Unbelivable!
> ..
> >Wake up. Realize that MS has no interest in fixing things and
> >wants to continue to foist this dreck on everyone. Wake up and
> >realize that it is sheer folly to continue to use this software.
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Well, I hear comments like this all the time; and they are probably quite
> correct. If you have any ideas on how I could deal with the difficulties I
> described above, I'd be grateful if you could please share them with me. I
> would love nothing better than to escape the bondage of Microsoft, and once
> again enjoy the pleasure of controlling my computer, instead of it controlling
> me - but I need to know what to change to, and have to somehow learn all the
> various things I need to know to make the transition.
>
> Regards,
> Michael Edwards.
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