Anyone switching to Mail because of the iPhone?

[tbatst]

Curious if any long-time Entourage users are considering switching
over to Mail, perhaps because of the iPhone, or perhaps because of the
(unsubstantiated) rumors that Office 2008's version of Entourage will
be the last. I won't be purchasing an iPhone right away, but they do
have my interest, and I'm really looking forward to seeing if
Entourage 08 brings any new cool features/changes.

I have about 6 business-crucial AppleScripts that I've had custom-
built for me over the past 5 years, so I'd want to see if Mail can
handle some kind of similar scripting. But mostly, I'm curious to hear
how the rest of you are sitting with this .

 

[William Smith]

Curious if any long-time Entourage users are considering switching
over to Mail, perhaps because of the iPhone, or perhaps because of the
(unsubstantiated) rumors that Office 2008's version of Entourage will
be the last. I won't be purchasing an iPhone right away, but they do
have my interest, and I'm really looking forward to seeing if
Entourage 08 brings any new cool features/changes.

I have about 6 business-crucial AppleScripts that I've had custom-
built for me over the past 5 years, so I'd want to see if Mail can
handle some kind of similar scripting. But mostly, I'm curious to hear
how the rest of you are sitting with this .

I'm confused by your question. You won't sync mail between your computer
and the iPhone. They can both connect to the same IMAP account but
that's all. Therefore, Apple's Mail or Microsoft Entourage will display
the same IMAP email information that you'll have on your phone.

As for rumors about Entourage, I've read a few but personally never seen
any that say Entourage 2008 will be the last. Sounds like FUD to me.

bill

 

[Pitch]

I've only ever used POP accounts, and don't exactly know how IMAP
works, but it sounds like you're saying that if I switch over all my
email accounts from POP to IMAP over at Dreamhost (my host), then the
status of all my emails-be they in the Inbox, or Deleted or any one of
my custom folders-will appear on any and all of my Macs (including a
potential iPhone), regardless if the email client is Entourage or
Mail. The only thing I'd be missing is a few of my customized Erage-
only Applescripts.

 

[Michelle]

Not planning on doing it because of the iPhone (can't afford one),
but I am thinking about what I might do when Leopard comes out.
I've loved Entourage because it has Mail, Calendar, To-do, Notes,
and Address Book all in the SAME program. However, as a current
Panther user (not Tiger yet), it is frustrating when so many things
will
sync to Apple's Mail/iCal/Address book directly where I have to jump
through a few hoops or get specialized software to do it through
Entourage.

Since Leopard will introduce some new features that are similar to
Entourage, I'm considering whether I'll make the switch.

I hadn't heard that Office 2008 may end the life of Entourage.

 

[Kerry]

Not planning on doing it because of the iPhone (can't afford one),
but I am thinking about what I might do when Leopard comes out.
I've loved Entourage because it has Mail, Calendar, To-do, Notes,
and Address Book all in the SAME program. However, as a current
Panther user (not Tiger yet), it is frustrating when so many things
will
sync to Apple's Mail/iCal/Address book directly where I have to jump
through a few hoops or get specialized software to do it through
Entourage.

Since Leopard will introduce some new features that are similar to
Entourage, I'm considering whether I'll make the switch.

I hadn't heard that Office 2008 may end the life of Entourage.

I've definitely not heard that Office 2008 will be the last. however,
I've used the Mac apps and Entourage and they both have advantages.
the Mac apps are fast as they are UB but you can't massage your data
nearly as nicely as in Entourage. the Mac Apps sync to the Palm better
through Missing Sync but Entourage's conduit is way faster and more
stable (no dups). I can see thought that if Microsoft misses the mark
with 2008, at it heft price tag, users will switch. They've already
started to due to Microsoft's long delay.

 

[William Smith]

I've only ever used POP accounts, and don't exactly know how IMAP
works, but it sounds like you're saying that if I switch over all my
email accounts from POP to IMAP over at Dreamhost (my host), then the
status of all my emails-be they in the Inbox, or Deleted or any one of
my custom folders-will appear on any and all of my Macs (including a
potential iPhone), regardless if the email client is Entourage or
Mail. The only thing I'd be missing is a few of my customized Erage-
only Applescripts.

That's pretty much correct. POP/SMTP accounts typically download
messages and then delete them from the server. IMAP will synchronize
mail between the server and any email client, including mail folders and
moved messages. A change in Apple's Mail will then be reflected in
Entourage or even the iPhone.

If your email host offers IMAP then go for it. It's very handy when
sharing one account between multiple email clients.

Hope this helps! bill

 

[William Smith]

Not planning on doing it because of the iPhone (can't afford one),
but I am thinking about what I might do when Leopard comes out.
I've loved Entourage because it has Mail, Calendar, To-do, Notes,
and Address Book all in the SAME program. However, as a current
Panther user (not Tiger yet), it is frustrating when so many things
will
sync to Apple's Mail/iCal/Address book directly where I have to jump
through a few hoops or get specialized software to do it through
Entourage.

I was not planning to buy an iPhone but something went horribly wrong
and somehow I now have one. I must say that my buyer's remorse is long
gone now.

Tiger greatly improved sync services and it may have been Tiger (I don't
recall) that allowed Entourage to use the same sync services as Address
Book, iCal, .Mac, etc. No special software is required other than an
up-to-date Entourage 2004. A recent discussion among some MVPs mentioned
the "truth" database, which is actually what all of these applications
sync to (they don't sync with each other). Any app that can sync to the
"truth" can sync data.

Since Leopard will introduce some new features that are similar to
Entourage, I'm considering whether I'll make the switch.

The second half of 2007 should be very interesting because not only
will Leopard be released but also Office 2008. Remember that you can
always download the Test Drive from Microsoft to evaluate whether or not
Office 2008 will suit your needs better.

Hope this helps! bill

 

[Michelle]

Thank you for all of the comments. I'm SO sorry that you're crushed
to have an iPhone! I'm jeolous! I do remember hearing that
Tiger
made syncing services so much easier. I actually recently purchased
Tiger, but am impatiently waiting for a friend to find an inexpensive
copy.
We decided to do the upgrade together so that we could troubleshoot
together! I'm quickly losing my patience and want mine installed
NOW!
I've had the box sitting in my living room for over a month now!

I never thought about trying the Test Drive of 2008. Does it have
limited features? Can I be running 2004 and 2008 at the same time?
I don't mean having them both opened at the same time, but have
them both installed and accessible. Will they share a database?

 

[Michel Bintener]

Hi Michelle,

we don't know yet if Microsoft is going to release a Test Drive for Office
2008, but the chances are quite high. Based on the Office 2004 Test Drive, I
would guess that the Test Drive will have most features enabled, except for
printing, and you will of course be reminded constantly that you are only
using a trial version and that you should buy the full version.

It should also be possible to run the Office 2008 Test Drive alongside your
full install of Office 2004. It will probably use a different folder for its
database. That's the way it works with Office v.X and the Office 2004 Test
Drive, and I don't expect anything to change in that area.

I never thought about trying the Test Drive of 2008. Does it have limited
features? Can I be running 2004 and 2008 at the same time? I don't mean
having them both opened at the same time, but have them both installed and
accessible. Will they share a database?

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

***Always reply to the newsgroup.***

 

[tbatst]

If your email host offers IMAP then go for it. It's very handy when
sharing one account between multiple email clients.

Hope this helps! bill

It does, William. Thanks. DreamHost offers it, so I may make the jump
to IMAP this week.

 

[Michelle]

NO PRINTING! Seriously! I had no idea that was how test drives work.

If it'll use a different folder for it's database, is there a way to "save"
anything done in the 2008 if you decide NOT to upgrade and stick with 2004?
And if you DO decide to upgrade, will it default back to your heavily loaded
DB from 2004? Or a way to import old stuff?

If I do upgrade, it will be the first time that I've ever had any other
program besides Word to worry about when moving up the versions.

 

[Diane Ross]

If it'll use a different folder for it's database, is there a way to "save"
anything done in the 2008 if you decide NOT to upgrade and stick with 2004?
And if you DO decide to upgrade, will it default back to your heavily loaded
DB from 2004? Or a way to import old stuff?

All of your work is saved. The test drive requires you to leave mail on the
server so it¹s still available for downloading into your older version. Your
³Sent² mail will need to be exported as an MBOX file for importing back into
your older version if you choose not to update.

When you try the test version you can choose to import your data or just use
it as a blank Identity. Regardless of which way you go, you can import your
data into the new test drive version. All of the data is still in your old
version.


--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
One of the top five MS Entourage resources listed on the Entourage Blog.
<http://blogs.msdn.com/entourage/>

 

[Loren Finkelstein]

Curious if any long-time Entourage users are considering switching
over to Mail, perhaps because of the iPhone, or perhaps because of the
(unsubstantiated) rumors that Office 2008's version of Entourage will
be the last. I won't be purchasing an iPhone right away, but they do
have my interest, and I'm really looking forward to seeing if
Entourage 08 brings any new cool features/changes.

The iPhone is an independent mail client. You don't need to change
anything on your computer.

As for the rumor about 2008 being the last version of Entourage, it's
just a rumor and even if it's true, it doesn't mean anything for another
3 or 4 years. Why make a tech decision years in advance???

 

[darkpilot]

However, as a current
Panther user (not Tiger yet), it is frustrating when so many things
will
sync to Apple's Mail/iCal/Address book directly where I have to jump
through a few hoops or get specialized software to do it through
Entourage.

That's exactly where I am - I've spent the last few hours trying to get my
contacts from Entourage to my new iPhone. Pain in the ass.

I don't pay for .Mac, which appears to be the path of least resistance to
get from Entourage to iPhone contacts. I've been trying to port my extensive
list of contacts from Entourage to Address Book, but the AppleScript fails
about halfway through the a's and you lose data (and time) dragging vCards.

I'm thinking about jumping to Address Book once and for all. I made the leap
to iCal a few months ago, and there'd be no reason to stay with Entourage
just for mail at that point.

Not ideal. Not what I thought when Apple said "will sync with your Entourage
contacts."