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Mac users running
OS X in organizations that use Microsoft Exchange Server for e-mail had
to use various workarounds in order to use certain features on Exchange.
They can now tap into what Exchange has to offer without compromising
collaboration with other Windows users.
Before the Exchange
Update for Entourage X came out, Mac users were stuck using Outlook 2001
for Mac. This proved very inconvenient for Mac OS X users when they had
to load classic mode in order to use Outlook 2001. When the Exchange Update
was made available to Entourage X in August 2003, it certainly filled
a void in interoperability.
Mac
users now have different options
There are several
ways for Mac users to access the features of Exchange like their Windows
counterpart. If you are running OS X with Office X, the easiest way is
probably to "Exchange-enable" your Entourage X. Entourage X (with Exchange
support) offers very similar experience as running Outlook on a Windows
computer (although some may not like mimicking Windows). Other common
ways include staying with the original Outlook 2001 from Office 2001,
Entourage 2001, using the Outlook Web Access (OWA) via a web browser and
accessing a Windows terminal server via the Remote Desktop Connection
Client for Mac (RDC).
Since this article
is focused mainly on Entourage X, I will just mention briefly the other
options.
Microsoft Outlook
2001 for Mac - this option is better suited for users of Mac OS older
than OS X, OS 8.5-9.x to be exact. For users of OS X, this is no competition
to Entourage X, and is certainly a hassle to use because it needs to run
in Classic mode within OS X. For those that are not using OS X, you have
the option of Outlook 2001 and Entourage 2001, depending on whether which
look and feel you prefer, the earlier being much more Windows-like than
the later. There are some features that Outlook 2001 has that Entourage
2001 doesn't.
Microsoft Entourage
2001 - This version runs on pre OS X and offers a new feel to the
tradition Outlook. For those who prefer an interface that has more "Mac
feel", they may like this better than Outlook 2001. There are also some
features that Entourage 2001 has that Outlook 2001 doesn't.
Outlook Web Access
(OWA) - With the web access, your access is no longer limited to a
certain operating system. It requires no setup on the user side so you
can read your email virtually everywhere that has an update web browser.
However, I feel that while the OWA is convenient tool for reading email
on the go, it is not the best fit for everyday use. There is generally
more mouse clicks required to accomplish the same goal as the desktop
variety.
Remote Desktop
Connection Client for Mac (RDC) - This option is only useful for those
organizations with the Windows Terminal Services enabled. Users basically
access a remote Windows server, and access their email as if they are
Windows users. Performance may vary, depending on the load of the terminal
server, and speed of the connection. It is useful as a temporary means
of access, especially if OWA isn't enabled or available, but may not be
the best choice for everyday use.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
If you would like
to have more details to help you decide, there is a comparison chart on
Mactopia where you can assess which option is best suited for your situation:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/support.aspx?pid=exchange
Your options are
not mutually exclusive, so you can always opt for one in the office, one
for home, and yet another when you're on the go. The key is how to keep
most of your data on the server so they can be accessed everywhere.
Shortcut to "Exchange-enable" your Entourage X:
To enable Exchange
support on your current Entourage X, 2 updates and a bit of basic configurations
are needed. None of them difficult-
Microsoft Office
v.X 10.1.1 update is not necessary (v.X 10.1.2 Updater includes updates
to v.X 10.1.1)
Microsoft Office
v.X 10.1.2 Update. (this updater includes the previously released
updates for Microsoft Office v.X for Mac: Office v.X 10.1.1 Update, Office
v.X Service Release 1, Entourage X Hotmail Update and Network Security
Update)
Microsoft Office
v.X 10.1.3 update is not necessary (v.X 10.1.4 Updater includes updates
to v.X 10.1.3)
Microsoft Office
v.X 10.1.4 Update (this updater is the Microsoft Exchange Update for
Entourage X) After the two updates, fire up Entourage X and continue your
setup:
1. Click on Tools,
then Accounts.
2. Click on the Exchange
tab, then New.
3. If the Account
Setup Assistant pops up, click on Configure Account manually.
Select the Account Settings tab (should be shown by default) at
the following window.
4. Type in an arbitrary
name in the Account Name field, this is to identify the profile
of this email account.
5. In the Account
ID field, type in your username (typically the part of your email
address before the @ sign).
6. Type in your password.
7. Type in your domain
name (you may have to ask your IT administrator if you are unsure. If
you also use OWA, as a hint, this is the same name used when you log on.
For example, if you log on using companydomain\username to OWA, companydomain
is what you will put into this field)
8. In the Exchange
Server field, type in your Exchange server's address. (e.g. exchange01.company.com)
9. Type in your name in the Name field.
10. Type in your
email address in the E-mail Address field.
11. Click on the
Mail tab.
12. Select (if not
already selected for you) Include this account in my "Send and Receive
All" schedule.
13. Finally, fill
in your SMTP server name, e.g. smtp.company.com, and click OK.
You should see new
messages pouring in if this account has already been in use.
At this point it
is a good idea to send yourself a message to check both the sending and
receiving part quickly. To check it more thoroughly, it is of course better
to send to an outside address as well. If it is not working, you may have
to go back and double check whether you mistyped a certain field.
Did you find this
article useful? Do you want to see more of this kind or something else?
I would really appreciate your comments, feel free to email
me!
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