Review of "Microsoft Outlook 2013"

Microsoft Outlook 2013 boasts an upgraded program that is easier to use.

But is it worth upgrading to if you have Outlook 2010? This review will give you all the details so that you can decide for yourself.

Streamlined

Most people that upgraded to Outlook 2010 were surprised by how streamlined the program was. It reduced all of the major functions to just four windows, and it was very easy to go from one window to the next to use its associated function. Microsoft Outlook 2013 is even more streamlined.
There are now only two windows. There is one window where you can view your inbox and read emails, and the other is a small window full of different icons. The icons are easy to understand, and you should have no problem navigating from one function to the next. The interface is not the only thing that is streamlined.
Replying to emails is also easier. You don’t need to open a separate window to make a reply. You are given a space underneath an email to immediately post your response. It might just save a few seconds, but those seconds add up over the months and years.
The People cards are also more streamlined. You often had to go through the entire card to get the information you wanted, but the new People cards put everything right in front. You can quickly see who the person is, if they are online and any other information you need within seconds. It’s much easier than with Outlook 2010, and Outlook 2013 even removes duplicate People entries.

Social Networking in Microsoft Outlook 2013

Office 2010 embraced the rising usage of social networking by allowing you to easily integrate Facebook and LinkedIn information with your Outlook account. While this made it easy to keep up with people, there were a few problems with it. Outlook would often get confused if you followed the same person on different social networks, and it sometimes had problems if you followed people with the same name.
Outlook 2013 has fixed all that. Social networking has been largely refined over the last few years, and it seems like Microsoft has learned how it works and how people use it. You shouldn’t experience any problems when following people, and Microsoft Outlook 2013 makes it even easier to integrate social networking information.

Calendar

The calendar function has remained largely the same from Outlook 2010. You can still see what appointments you have, and it is very easy to add new appointments when you need to. The only major change from 2010 to 2013 is that you can make all the appointment days pop up from the calendar. This will show you the details of the appointment, and it makes it easier to see longer notes attached to the appointment days.

Design

This is one area where most people are upset about the change. Most people don’t consider design to be Microsoft’s strong point, but Microsoft Outlook 2013 barely has any design. The windows are all white, and there is only a thin strip of gray separating each window. It can be a little difficult to look at, and many people have had eyestrain while getting used to the new design.
Microsoft could have used some colors to balance out the screen, but they decided to make everything pure white. It might be a good idea to turn down your screen’s brightness when using Outlook 2013 to avoid any eyestrain.

Mail Tips

Microsoft Outlook 2013 includes automated tips that will spring up at certain times. Some of the tips are fairly obvious, like adding a title or ensuring that a file is properly attached. The best thing about this feature is the business potential. Many businesses have policies regarding emails, but few employees pay attention to these policies.
Administrators can add policies into Microsoft Outlook 2013, and the program will keep employees from breaking these policies. This is very helpful, and it raises awareness of these policies.

Conclusion on Microsoft Outlook 2013

Microsoft Outlook 2013 might have a really bad design, but that is the only bad thing to say about it. The program is much easier to use, and everything loads much faster. There are also many helpful features, and this program can keep you organized. You should definitely consider upgrading if you have the previous Outlook.