Outlook 2003 for idiots?

SolarNexus

okay, this is an odd one...

I have a particular family member who, to my detriment, refuses to click send & recieve to get his email and bitches and moans like a toddler when he isnt getting the email like he 'should'.

heres the dealie: I want to be able to get rid of all the fancy interface options, the menus, the buttons, all the stuff that is confusing for the computer illiterate. I know a decent amount of programming, so I would be willing to create a plugin for outlook if required, but I would like another less labour intensive option.

* In the meantime, I'll make a script to auto-check his email, but I still need a way to get rid of all the toolbars n' such, as they 'confuse' him so :rolleyes:

WizZard

You can set it up to auto check for email, or try Mozilla Thunderbird

stevenmu

The thing is Outlook 2003 is for idiots. The best thing to do with people like that is leave them moan about it for a month or two, then change it something else (thunderbird etc), then listen to them moan for a day or two about how bad that is, then see how gratefull they are when you give them outlook back

astrofool

outlook sends and recieves automatically?

maybe the user would be better off learning how to use a telephone to communicate, and could take an evening course to learn how to do so....

Peace

astrofool wrote:

outlook sends and recieves automatically?

maybe the user would be better off learning how to use a telephone to communicate, and could take an evening course to learn how to do so....

Yeah, set it to automaically send & recieve. Then you can just turn off all the toolbars.

ressem

Tools/Options
Mail Delivery tab
Check for mails every N minutes. Defaults to 10

SolarNexus

stevenmu wrote:

The thing is Outlook 2003 is for idiots. The best thing to do with people like that is leave them moan about it for a month or two, then change it something else (thunderbird etc), then listen to them moan for a day or two about how bad that is, then see how gratefull they are when you give them outlook back

I'm seriously considering that, but personally I prefer outlook 2003 - anytime I use another email program, I soon begin missing the message rules ability of outlook. Mostly, he uses outlook at work and its hard enough to get him to use a mouse, without trying to get him to remember how to use two programs...

damn, if he werent so lazy when it comes to computers, I wouldnt be tempted to come at him with a knife everytime I hear him moaning about how something doesnt work (j/k).

yes. I'm talking about my dad... geeze, you'd think I was talking about a toddler

irlrobins

SolarNexus wrote:

yes. I'm talking about my dad... geeze, you'd think I was talking about a toddler

I feel your pain. My Dad is the same. Thats why he recieves invoices from me every month for IT support. :-D