[arainert]

I've been using Entourage for quite some time. I had completely moved over to iCal when it first came out and quickly realized that it behaved too much like a beta.

I was wondering what others feel about this comparison.

Personally, I have a hard time going with 3 apps to serve the function of 1 but I do feel that Entourage is unnecessarily bulky. That is not even counting iSync as the fourth app I would need to sync with my Palm.

Anyone made that switch successfully and happy with it?

Thanks,

:a

[Appleman]

I don't like Mail, but like iPhoto, iCal more or less, iSync yes.

[Eug]

Originally posted by arainert:
I've been using Entourage for quite some time. I had completely moved over to iCal when it first came out and quickly realized that it behaved too much like a beta.

I was wondering what others feel about this comparison.

Personally, I have a hard time going with 3 apps to serve the function of 1 but I do feel that Entourage is unnecessarily bulky. That is not even counting iSync as the fourth app I would need to sync with my Palm.

Anyone made that switch successfully and happy with it?

Thanks,

:a

I like Entourage, but I dunno what you mean by bulky? It's not as I find it slow or anything, even when I used my G3 600 iBook.

[arainert]

As with most MS apps I feel that it does a whole lot more than most people need. At the same time, I feel that Mail might not do enough.

I guess I was hoping for someone to convince me that the Apple Apps were better when I think deep down inside, I know they fall short for anyone who wants more than a barebones email/calendaring/address book app. Maybe someday...

[karbon]

Originally posted by arainert:
Anyone made that switch successfully and happy with it?

I made the switch when 10.2 came out, and haven't looked back since! All applications have worked like a dream, and I have about 15000 emails in Mail, never a problem

However, there are a couple of annoyances:
Mail sends mails with attachments in a funny way. On a PC you'll get a duplicate file for every attachment, and that can for many PC users be confusing.

Also, Mail does not track the history of emails links to replies and forwards etc.), as Entourage does (I miss that some times).

[Buck_W]

Originally posted by karbon:
I made the switch when 10.2 came out, and haven't looked back since...

However, there are a couple of annoyances:
Mail sends mails with attachments in a funny way. On a PC you'll get a duplicate file for every attachment, and that can for many PC users be confusing.

Until Apple gets that resource fork issue straightened out in mail, I will stick with Entourage. While I would prefer to use mail, Entourage has been a terrific app to use.

[undotwa]

Originally posted by arainert:
As with most MS apps I feel that it does a whole lot more than most people need. At the same time, I feel that Mail might not do enough.

I guess I was hoping for someone to convince me that the Apple Apps were better when I think deep down inside, I know they fall short for anyone who wants more than a barebones email/calendaring/address book app. Maybe someday...

For an e-mail client, what more do you possibly want to do than simply send and receive e-mail?

Really. It serves it's purpose. I like it.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Entourage can be slow when you hit "new message" and stuff like that.

I tried to move to mail but I don't like the way it handles file attachments and multiple accounts. Other then that mail.app is great but I am sticking with Entourage for now.

[tikki]

For my simple needs, Mail, iCal, and AddressBook work wonders. Wouldn't even think of switching over to Entourage.

[mrquizzo]

I'm new to the whole Entourage thing and have found it to be a little more trouble than what it's worth. I need full Bluetooth via iSync connectivity and have decided, after reading many threads on the subject, that iCal and the iApp's, Address and iMail would be more than adequate. Cleaning house on Monday.

[k2director]

I switched from Entourage to Mail/iCal when Jag came out, and within 3 weeks switched back to Entourage, largely because Mail/iCal seemed slow to me, and I liked the idea of having one app icon in my Dock.

But last week I decided to give the native Apple apps another try, and I'm glad I did. I don't know if it's my imagination or what, but Mail under 10.2.3 feels faster, and I figured out how to set iCal's preferences to do the simple things I want (like show To Dos that are only due that particular day...though more keyboard commands would be useful). Plus I like iCal's ability to subscribe to other calendars. Also, I'm going to get a Bluetooth phone pretty soon, and want the ability to sync via iSync, and dial from my Address Book, etc.

The biggest draw for me is how all the iApps are beginning to work together and with other devices--again, stuff like dialing cel numbers from my Address Book, or synching my calendar with my phone, or publishing my calendar for others on the net, or seeing which of my iChat buddies are online from the Mail window, etc. etc.

I don't have high hopes that Microsoft will pursue this kind of integration in Entourage. Plus, I just like using as few Microsoft products as possible. The fact that I'm down only to Word and occassionally Excel gives me great pleasure--not out of Mac zealotry, but just because I think having alternatives to Microsoft is good for the industry, and you can't have alternatives unless you're willing to use them and help them evolve...

[clarkgoble]

The big advantage to Mail is its junk mail feature. Amazingly good. I wish I had it on Outlook at work.

[TeknoTurd]

The junk mail feature is awesome, i love how it learns what is junk rather than just trying to sort some stuff out and then leave the rest for you to deal with. Though after using this iBook for 6months i have tons of deleted mail in entourage that i need and this is just slowing my conversion back to the mail app, as well as the fact that i dont get any junk mail. When my girlfriend gets her new iBook i will surely set her up with the Mail.app because it is simple, works well with all the other iApps, and has awesome junk filtering. In my opinion its an awesome little mail client for anyone with basic needs, Entourage may have a few features that people deem indisposable though, not me

[Cellery]

Entourage is what I use, since it's nice having everything in one place. Now if they could get it to sync up with my Pocket PC, that would be fantastic. Until then, I'll keep my trusty VAIO around for the purpose.

[MickS]

I have never liked the Outlook/Entourage approach, I understand why it appeals to some people but it's too much of a windows application for me.

I like Mail/AddressBook/iCal (though the latter still has short comings).

The thing that is disappointing is that companies have yet to take on board the openness of these apps. The AddressBook is designed so that all apps can use it, a single addressbook for the machine (rather than one for each application that needs one), likewise iCal for events.

If you like Entourage then I think that the separate nature of the Apple apps won't appeal to you.

[Gankdawg]

Originally posted by Buck_W:
Until Apple gets that resource fork issue straightened out in mail, I will stick with Entourage. While I would prefer to use mail, Entourage has been a terrific app to use.

I will second that motion. I would love to use Mail, Address Book, and iCal but it's too little too late. I couldn't wait for Apple to get their act together and optimize these apps so I use Entourage. Maybe someday I will be a "switcher".

[Peter]

I love mail, the bounce to sender button is very useful for spam. But the pop3 can be a bit shaky at times...