Mac BU offers Office 2008 sneak peek no. 5

...any further information about Entourage, and interaction with Exchange server -- the MacBU may be coily claiming "saving the best for last', but this just indicates further for me that we can expect yet another crap implementation of Exchange integration on Entourage.

I really wish someone would either:

- create a true Exchange client (seeing as how MS' own MacBU proves unable to do so).

- creates a CalDav converter, that works with iCal server (not some crap like Groupcal, that sits on the client side, and never really works well), and feeds iCal clients with proper exchange data.

- ports and adapts something like Evolution, and/or the Exchange Connector from Evolution, to work under Leopard.

Like the respondent above, I am waiting for true relevance - interoperability with other applications and Exchange server.

Will Entourage's Categories mesh with iCal's Calendars? I know that it's not Entourage's fault that they don't, but I hope that they will. I like using Entourage's calendar, but am forced to use iCal in order to sync with my Palm - it's the only way to retain color coding of appointments.

MAPI support, Resource booking, Out of Office assistant....

Basic stuff that Outlook 2001 for Mac OS 9 had. If they skip these this time around we can say it's deliberate beyond doubt.

Entourage sucks in a corporate setting. Parallels and Outlook 2003 on XP is the only way I can stay sane. MS likely banks on this.

This Office preview thing is starting to sound like a 3am infomercial. I mean, what ISN'T in there? It does everything, damn, everything! Except the things people need, like check their mail quickly or access a word processor that doesn't look like you are writing on a Christmas tree. It will probably ship on 30 DVDs, including an attachment to wipe your ass while you browse through the Word-art.

Doofuses.

schatz considers: "Basic stuff that Outlook 2001 for Mac OS 9 had. If they skip these this time around we can say it's deliberate beyond doubt"

Never assume 'malice', when 'incompetence' is a much better explanation...

Entourage working in a work environment... funny. Just like the previous times, they aren't talking.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

Fool me three times... Microsoft, business as usual.