Ibexx & all, - "Microsoft set to deliver free Outlook'98 clients"
infoworld.com
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However, Outlook '98 will not incorporate browsing
functions, even though it can operate
in HTML mode, Gode said.
"We've been saying all along that Outlook '98
is a great all-around e-mail client and we
will encourage people to use it as a
front-end client to any Internet e-mail server,
including Exchange," Gode said.
"Outlook '98 is totally HTML-compliant,
and e-mail messages -- if the user chooses --
can be in HTML," Gode added. "We will
not default to HTML, because -- as nice as it is
-- in talking to corporate users we
find that the infrastructure and storage infrastructure
are not set up for people sending
and storing weighty e-mail messages. We will default to
plain or rich text format, but users
have the opportunity to send HTML messages."
The clear separation of the browsing function,
despite the HTML functionality, creates a
distinct divide between the Outlook
approach and that of messaging and groupware rival
Lotus Development.
Lotus plans in the second half of this
year to deeply integrate browsing functions into its
next client, code-name Maui, so that
the HTML-based e-mail and Notes client acts as an
all-in-one user destination. Ironically,
Lotus will use Microsoft's Internet Explorer
ActiveX control to do so.
Microsoft, unlike Lotus, appears to be
resisting an all-in-one client approach, and will
keep the browsing function separate or
aligned with the operating system. Users will
alternate between the Outlook client
(for messaging, calendar, and productivity
applications), and the browser and/or
operating system for local and wide area file
management or intranet and Web access.
"Outlook '98 cannot yet use the IE control,
and we have no plans going forward to make
that possible," Gode said.
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