Well, if it is like Outlook 2002, you will need to also buy a version of
Word that matches the version of Outlook, so you'll end up having to
also buy Word 2003 if you want to use Word as your e-mail editor.
So just what super critical features exist in Outlook 2003 that demands
users waste a hundred bucks or more to get a version of the product that
otherwise simply slapped on a new version in the product's title? What
fantastic and necessary changes exist in Outlook 2003 that are not
available as free add-ons or utilities with Outlook 2002? The home page
at Microsoft for Outlook 2003 is extremely vague about what is so great
in this new version, and it doesn't provide a feature comparison chart
to delineate the changes or enhancements in Outlook 2003 versus Outlook
2002.
A new user interface that shows more messages at a time and more of each
message in the reading pane.
Junk Mail Protection (very good and enhanced over previous versions)
Better security (blocking for external content images, trusted COM add-ins
for no security prompts)
No 2 GB limit for new Unicode PSTs
Cached Exchange mode (big advantage for mobile users against an Exchange
Server)
Destktop alerts which alert you to who the message is from and the first
line of the message. These are transparent and popup over existing programs
without taking the focus away from existing programs or forcing you to
switch to Outlook to see who that latest message is from.
There are many more as well, but those are the top ones.
Of course if none of those interest you then by all means, don't buy Outlook
2003. This version did a whole lot more than just slap a new version on the
product title.
--
Patricia Cardoza
Outlook MVP
Author, Special Edition Using Microsoft Outlook 2003
Doesn't Outlook have basic formatting, editing and spelling tools
available, as does any e-mail program, when composing a message
eliminating the need for a compatable editor. I can understand it's
need when composing tables, columns, etc