Outlook and Outlook express mixed mode TS 2003

[sk8ology]

Has anyone run into problems using outlook and outlook express in mixed mode on windows 2003 terminal server (outlook for one user and O.E. for another)?

Here is my scenario;
The server has about 60 users on it. I started to notice that outlook and word as the email editor was taking up most of the resources so I decided to convert newer employees to Outlook Express. I am in testing with a handful of employees and am running into default email problems. When I go into options in O.E. and make it the default Mail handler and exit O.E. and go back in it’s already set back to Outlook (or not O.E.) I also set it in internet options as the default email, that changes back to outlook as well but not all the time. Sometimes when a user clicks send to as attachment in word it works and other times it tries to use outlook. It's like they are battling each other. I will continue testing and maybe figure out what is going on, but if anyone knows if this is not possible I will stop now and go back to the drawing board.

So I guess my question is;

Can I not use these 2 separate apps for some users and not others? Is it all for 1 and 1 for all?

 

[58sniper]

Why wouldn't you just keep them from using Word as the email editor? Outlook has far more functionality that OE. You're not getting a good ROI by using OE.

Pat Richard, MCSE(2) MCSA:Messaging, CNA(2)

 

[sk8ology]

Outlook has a little too much functionality. I work for a collection agency and the users are collectors that should be focusing on collecting. If I could go more basic and simpler than O.E. I would. I almost thought of using our email providers Webmail for there mail client, but that would involve training and again were dealing with collectors and training them on something new could take a while. They are use to Outlook so O.E. isn’t a big difference for them.

 

[58sniper]

A properly configured GPO can keep them from noodling with things.

Pat Richard, MCSE(2) MCSA:Messaging, CNA(2)

 

[sk8ology]

True, and I've been working on that. However the fact is Outlook uses more resources than O.E. I want most users to use O.E. and a handful to use Outlook.

Or is there a GPO setting that sets default email clients?

 

[sk8ology]

ARRRGGGHH! This really stinks. Outlook and Outlook Express keeps batteling for default email client. Is there no way around this? Nobody has heard of a mixed mode between Outlook and O.E. on a windows 2003 terminal server? I would like to have some users on Outlook and some on O.E. and be able to have whatever one they are using be their default mail client. But its like as soon as one user opens either one the question gets asked "do you want outlook (or O.E.) as your default email client"? if a user hits yes it switches it for all.

This is a pain in the but and I am starting to think I should switch all users to something non-Microsoft. But that is a project I'm trying to avoid.

Anyone got any answers??