Microsoft Outlook 2002

New features include AutoComplete Addressing: As a user enters an e-mail address, Outlook automatically recognizes it and completes the name based on previously sent e-mail to the recipient. Users can also now access e-mail from their Hotmail accounts (or other Internet mail providers) directly from within Outlook. Users with multiple e-mail accounts can choose on a per-message basis what account to use to send their message. With Word as the default e-mail editor, users can take advantage of the smart tags that are available in Word (including AutoCorrect, paste options, address, name, date, or customizable smart tags). Smart tags are context-sensitive buttons that give users the options and information they need at the time they need them.

Users can now easily change between different mail formats on the fly and on a per-message basis. By giving users the option to switch between HTML, rich text, or plain text, they can more easily format their message so that the recipient can have the best viewing experience. Mailbox Cleanup allows users to view the size of their mailbox, search for files by size or by age, and then delete, move, or archive those files to clear up space. Exchange users can also automatically be notified when they are approaching their mailbox size limit and choose from the above options for cleaning up their mailbox. And Outlook can now automatically clean up plain text e-mail formatting that often contains extra line breaks that make the message difficult to read. Outlook automatically removes the extra line breaks (an option exists to turn this off as well) when a user opens an e-mail message, previews the message in the preview pane, or prints the message so that it is easier to read.

Not only will you be disappointed, but you will have wasted your money. I enjoy MS Office, but their upgrades are no longer worth paying for. To boot, we now have to activate our product through Microsoft...what a joke!

If your new to computing, be smart and look for Office Suite alternatives.


Rating Questions   August 13, 2002
Aelta Christopher (Chatsworth, CA United States)
13 out of 37 found this review helpful

Although you state this is Outlook 2002, I received Outlook 2000 [the box clearly states it is Outlook 2000 -- with an exclamation point after 2000 -- i.e. 2000!). I have an XP and requested the latest version of Outlook (2002) not 2000. Also, I filled out the form for a rebate and never received it. I have been charged your (then) full price for the item. How can I rate version 2002 when I received 2000 (which I already had)?


Microsoft Outlook: Worth It?   January 20, 2002
Andre Da Costa (Jamaica W.I.)
I have been using Microsoft Outlook for almost three years now, and to tell you the truth I like it a lot! Recently, I upgraded to version 2002 and was impressed by the features in the application. The integration of Hotmail is not a new feature but an easier approach to setting-up accounts with the e-mail service. Other features such as organizing e-mail whether its junk or something important is also good, but I think users will find more features when it comes to integration with other Office applications such as Word. Say for example, your typing a letter and you insert a person's name, through the use of Smart Tags Word will ask you if you would like to add it to your contacts or schedule a meeting in Outlook, a handy feature, but for me it's not really necessary. This version, I think is worth the upgrade it's much improved compared to Outlook 97, 98 and "2000" in some ways, users will some how find other useful and interesting features in this application. Remember, Outlook 2000 was always known as a virus harbor, and it was always difficult to set-up accounts with hotmail, so if there is at least one program out of the core Office XP applications, I suggest Outlook 2002. Like I said, there are some new cool features I have not yet discovered.