Microsoft Woos Gmail Users - InformationWeek

About Us

Advertise

Oldest First | Newest First | Threaded View

[close this box]

Page 1 / 3 > >>

100%

Kristin Burnham,
User Rank: Author
12/13/2013 | 10:15:26 AM

Really?

I get that Microsoft's angle for this is privacy considerations with the scanning Google does, but it feels like Microsoft is grasping at straws by calling Gmail outdated. I don't know anyone who would ditch Gmail in favor of Outlook -- scanning or no scanning. Perhaps targeting Yahoo customers would be more productive considering all the problems they've had recently.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

100%

David F. Carr,
User Rank: Author
12/13/2013 | 10:23:05 AM

Have you tried Outlook.com?

Curious to hear from anyone who has adopted Outlook.com as their primary email client. I've seen reviews but haven't heard from anyone who has used it on an ongoing basis.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

100%

Whoopty,
User Rank: Ninja
12/13/2013 | 12:18:41 PM

Google policies

Quite a few elements are coming together to paint Google in quite a poor light at the moment. Gone are the days when it was seen as the non-corporate alternative to Microsoft. Today it seems more like a data hoarder and corporate shill.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

50%

anon6329352215,
User Rank: Apprentice
12/13/2013 | 12:41:59 PM

Spam in Outlook.com

I have both Gmail and Hotmail accounts and I very much prefer the former. Outlook.com still, after all these years, has much more spam than Gmail. With Gmail I may get a spam or phishing mail about once every couple of months. My Hotmail is forwarded to my Gmail but I go there every once and a while to clean it out and it is filled with spam---those messages never get through the Gmail filters.

Personally, I also greatly appreciate the new inbox tab options in Gmail. It has made finding my priority mails, and dealing with each category when I want, very easy.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

100%

coppersloane,
User Rank: Apprentice
12/13/2013 | 12:52:55 PM

Really.

You should try it, Kristin.

Gmail is a clusterf*ck compared to Outlook: Gmail has ads to add to the clutter. Outlook doesn't. Gmail has integrated chat. Outlook has integrated Skype. Gmail is a one window pane deal. Outlook has two window panes side-by-side... a column with e-mails, and when each one is highlighted, the second pane shows the e-mail in its entirety, so you don't have to click Inbox to go back. Everything is right there in front of you. Also, if you want to chat with someone on Skype, it opens up into a third window setting on the right, giving you full view of your Inbox, your selected e-mail, and your chat conversation in its entirety. It's seamless. And this is all in the initial redesign from Hotmail. It's still a new product and it's already out-performing Gmail (if you consider everything I just mentioned worthwhile, anyway).

Then there's the actual Outlook program that comes with Office. Gmail doesn't even compare to that. Comparing Gmail to the Office version of Outlook would be like comparing a Honda to a Rolls Royce. Comparing Gmail to Outlook.com would be like comparing that same Honda to a BMW.

However, I realize Gmail is the familiar option, so whatever makes people feel comfortable I suppose. I don't think Microsoft is grasping at straws at all. Quite the contrary, I think they're doing people a favor by giving them an easy path to what is in every way better e-mail. Sometimes people are so complacent and firmly entrenched in a way of life that they don't know something better is out there. Add to that Gmail's scanning your personal stuff... I just don't see why any intelligent, self-respecting person would choose to stay with them. I'm always seeking out the better option, but combine that with being a fan of my own privacy, I think I'll stick with Microsoft.

As for people I know, the only person I know currently who still uses Gmail is my mom, and that's because she just can't be bothered. Everyone else I'm in contact with uses Outlook or some Windows 365 corporate or university e-mail.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

100%

coppersloane,
User Rank: Apprentice
12/13/2013 | 12:59:46 PM

Re: Really.

As an aside, just now I opened my Gmail and saw a column of ads tailored to 'buying gifts for Mom.' Why? Because here, in my initial post, Gmail somehow KNEW that I had just mentioned my mom.

If that doesn't bother you, more power to you, but that is disturbing.

Also, for the person who just posted about spam: I currently have on average 8-10 spam messages in my spam folder on Gmail per month, all listed there for the past year. In Outlook I have 10 for the month of December. The junk mail from previous months were AUTOMATICALLY DELETED by Outlook. You're doing something wrong.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

100%

atcraigslist,
User Rank: Apprentice
12/13/2013 | 1:02:56 PM

outlook is not that good

spam is gone from my gmail account

but still in my outlook account

you can sign in to gmail with just your user name

with outlook you have to use full email address

with hotmail if you suspended your account

everything would be still there when you reactivated it

with outlook its gone for ever

since hotmail changed to outlook i rarely use it

gmail is not perfect but its better than outlook

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

100%

asksqn,
User Rank: Ninja
12/13/2013 | 1:44:15 PM

Anticompetitive monopoly?

LOL Pot, meet kettle.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

50%

TroutHound,
User Rank: Apprentice
12/13/2013 | 1:54:56 PM

Re: Really.

You sound a bit too worked up over this. Perhaps you're a Microsoft employee who's sick of Google getting all the attention. I've been using gmail since it first came out and am completely satisfied with it. I also use Outlook to back up my Google mail. I don't care that Google scans my e-mail. It's automatic. No human is reading my mail besides me. (Well, besides me and some government agencies.) Google has to get payed somehow to keep this service around. I like the instant searches. I like that I can get to my mail from any device, any browser, and from anywhere. I like how reliable it's been for me. I like all the storage I get for free.

I'm partial to Google for most everything: mail, calendar, documents, searches, etc. I also use Windows and Office when I have to--I personally payed for them. I have no idea what wonderous things Outlook could do for me that gmail doesn't. Since I can't think of anything more I want it to do, I'm not switching to Outlook or anything else for my personal needs.

I don't know anyone who uses Outlook for their personal mail. I work for a large software company. None of my colleagues use Outlook. We use Thunderbird.

My two cents.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

50%

coppersloane,
User Rank: Apprentice
12/13/2013 | 2:09:08 PM

Re: Really.

I wish I was a Microsoft employee. Alas, I'm an English major/broke university student. I use Google products for my mobile solutions. I have a Nexus S phone and Nexus 7 tablet and I'm quite fond of them. Like I said, I always go with the options I deem best according to a number of factors.

Also, I'm not worked up. I just believe in what I say. When I make a post, I genuinely try to contribute as much as possible, and I believe in any company's right to compete. Whoever gave me the IW medal must find my approach refreshing.

Reply | Post Message | Messages List | Start a Board

Page 1 / 3 > >>

Reports

The State of Cloud Computing - Fall 2020

Download this report to compare how cloud usage and spending patterns have changed in 2020, and how respondents think they'll evolve over the next two years.

Download Now!

More Reports