Outlook 2002 (Office XP Suite), 3 things I need to understand... 1

[j0ckser]

1. I set my Outlook to poll the server every 5 minutes for mail (Tools|Options|Mail Setup|Send/Receive) as well as <Immediately when connected>. Occasionally, it will send and receive on it's own, but usually I must punch <Send/Receive> on the Toolbar. There must be something I am missing. I graduated (?) from Win98 to Windows 2000 Pro and with '98 the pollling worked perfectly.

2. A friend of mine has just acquired Outlook 2002 (as part of OfficeXP) and still uses Outlook Express. What major features differentiate Express from the real thing?

3. I have a home office and both my wife and son occasionally use my computer. They each have their own login but I would like wife to be able to see my calendar and contacts, and my son to be able to see my contacts? I recall seeing the sharing done on a network a few years ago (so my boss could see my calendar), but I'm stumped about how to do it myself.

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[cameramonkey]

First part, It should be checking on its own. I have seen my copy do the same, but have yet to figure out why it isnt always checking.

Second, the main feature difference between the two is features. Outlook express is a straight-up email and newsgroup reader. nothing more. Outlook adds exchange server functionality, as well as lightweight contact management and scheduling. If all he wants is email, he should probably stick with express as he is used to that.
Microsoft's word on this:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=257824

Third, after outlook 2000, there is no reliable way (that I have found) to share calendars and such without an exchange server or some other 3rd party software. I guess they werent selling enough exchange servers . I have seen quite a few applications out there designed to share your outlook data, but some can be pretty pricey, and others are just flaky (I am still cleaning up after outlook4team).

This site seems to have a fairly comprehensive list of options out there:

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/share.htm

 

[j0ckser]

Thank you cameramonkey. The most useful info is the last (sharing) - it looks like it may work.

I hope someone will come along and trip over this post and provide some idea about #1.

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