# Outlook Express question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 15, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329 "2015-09-15T04:37:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/1 "2015-09-15T04:37:13Z")
I’m buying a new Office Suite package and trying to decide if Outlook is worth the extra $80. The new computer I’m getting already has some sort of email program.
So is Outlook really worth it?
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### Author:  [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/2 "2015-09-15T05:35:05Z")
As someone who hasn’t used a PC based email in years, I’d say no. But it depends on what you’re doing with it, I guess. If you’re someone who has to keep all your emails on your local hard drive then it may be worth it. Some need to do that for business reasons I think?
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/3 "2015-09-15T06:20:55Z")
Outlook is a bit cranky and clunky, and I’m sorry to say, you’ll probably find some aggro from using it.
But it actually does do what it’s meant to do, and so it’s better than nothing.
I do not know of a comparable program that covers all the bases.
So…take a stress pill, configure it as much as possible to your preferences, and keep a reference book (“Fifty swear-words for everyday computer use”) by your side.
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### Author:  [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2015, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/4 "2015-09-15T11:04:24Z")
For personal email Outlook is more trouble than it’s worth. It’s not just email, it’s a full personal information manager more suited for corporate network accounts (meeting scheduling, document sharing etc.) When Microsoft finally ended Outlook Express I switched to Windows _ **Live** _ Mail (not Windows Mail) and am still using the 2012 version today with Windows 8.1.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/5 "2015-09-15T18:12:33Z")
OP: what version of Windows will the PC run? Both now and do you have upgrade plans. Outlook Express was an XP-and-earlier product. The new products are different and you may be surprised at what they do and don’t do.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/6 "2015-09-15T18:24:18Z")
Unless you need the calendar function, I can’t see any reason to use Outlook.
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### Author:  [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question/731329/7 "2015-09-16T04:19:58Z")
I decide to just use Windows mail.