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Are you scratching your head trying to figure out which Outlook to use? You’re not alone! Even Microsoft employees are feeling the confusion.
Microsoft veteran Scott Hanselman recently joked about the ever-growing list of Outlook variants on Bluesky, highlighting a problem that many users face: choosing the right version.
Hanselman, a Developer Community VP at Microsoft, playfully suggested even more options like “Outlook (Zero Sugar)” or “Outlook (Caffeine Free)”, echoing the frustration of users confronted with choices like “Outlook New” versus “Outlook (New)”. He even reminisced about Outlook ’95, and even Outlook 97!
The issue extends beyond just Outlook. Teams users, for example, often see both “Microsoft Teams” and “Microsoft Teams (Personal)” vying for attention in the system tray.
Microsoft has pushed the “new” Outlook onto users via Windows Update, while renaming the original to “Outlook (Classic)” to allow both to coexist. While “Classic” support continues until 2029, Microsoft is eager for users to switch, despite the new version’s missing features.
According to Microsoft, the new Outlook “is inspired by the Outlook web experience.” A significant drawback? It lacks support for COM add-ins, crucial for many enterprise workflows.
The rollout plan involves an opt-in stage, followed by an opt-out stage where users must actively revert to the “Classic” version. Eventually, Microsoft will move to a cutover stage, making the change permanent, providing administrators with a 12-month warning.
The situation draws parallels to the infamous “New Coke” debacle, where a soft drink company replaced a popular product, only to backtrack and rebrand the original as “classic.”
Hanselman’s humorous take underscores the potential for user confusion when faced with too many similar, yet subtly different, options.
Outlook (Stable and Fast), anyone?