Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on June 24, 2003 07:07 AM
It's great that you don't know anyone that uses Outlook or Outlook Express at home. But that is far from the norm. I've seen the headers of an awful lot of emails in my capacity at work, and let me tell you, the majority of people out there seem to use Outlook Express.
Inertia is strong. Most computer newbies use outlook express because it comes pre-installed on their computer. They don't see why they should download another one and then take the time to install and configure it. Remember, simply downloading and installing software is a big and intimidating step for most new computer users, so they are unlikely to install replacements for software that works perfectly well from their limited point of view.
The inertia sets in later. After using Outlook or Outlook express for a while, most average computer users do not see any compelling reasons to switch. They don't really care about viruses so long as it does not damage their computer or those of there employer, friend, etc. That's why symantec makes so much money off anti-virus protection - catching and removing viruses is just as good as making sure they can't infect you in the first place. If the anti-virus works, then the average user puts no more thought into the matter.
I think that weening corporations off of Exchange may help get users off of Outlook, but it won't help much. As long as Windows is the standard, the only way to kill outlook is to get a major vendor like Dell or HP to install an alternate emailer and set it up as the default. Nothing short of that will work. Well, ok, a super virus that completely destroys all data on the target machine, and infects 95% of all connected computers within minutes, that *might* convince enough folks to switch, but don't count on it.
Maybe I'm too cynical, but that's the way I see it.
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Re:Conver OE users? OK. Outlook? Not so...
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on June 24, 2003 07:07 AMInertia is strong. Most computer newbies use outlook express because it comes pre-installed on their computer. They don't see why they should download another one and then take the time to install and configure it. Remember, simply downloading and installing software is a big and intimidating step for most new computer users, so they are unlikely to install replacements for software that works perfectly well from their limited point of view.
The inertia sets in later. After using Outlook or Outlook express for a while, most average computer users do not see any compelling reasons to switch. They don't really care about viruses so long as it does not damage their computer or those of there employer, friend, etc. That's why symantec makes so much money off anti-virus protection - catching and removing viruses is just as good as making sure they can't infect you in the first place. If the anti-virus works, then the average user puts no more thought into the matter.
I think that weening corporations off of Exchange may help get users off of Outlook, but it won't help much. As long as Windows is the standard, the only way to kill outlook is to get a major vendor like Dell or HP to install an alternate emailer and set it up as the default. Nothing short of that will work. Well, ok, a super virus that completely destroys all data on the target machine, and infects 95% of all connected computers within minutes, that *might* convince enough folks to switch, but don't count on it.
Maybe I'm too cynical, but that's the way I see it.
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