Outlook for what?

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Can someone explain to me the purpose of Outlook on the TP2? And how exactly does it differ from just setting up my own POP3 email? What benefit is gained from setting up my email as Outlook instead of as regular email? I'm just not getting this.

Either way, Windows Mobile uses Outlook Mobile to show email, no matter which option you choose. Much like Excel will show spreadsheets, Outlook is the program responsible for handling emails...

In this case I believe "Outlook Email" refers to Exchange Email. Exchange is a Microsoft Server product that integrates with the Mobile and Desktop versions of Outlook.

it also allows for calendar synchronization as well...

This is a holdover from the old days of the Pocket PC. Before Windows Mobile was running on phones, it was used on PDAs. The Outlook option in email allowed you to sync your email with your PC's outlook when connected with ActiveSync. When you synced your Pocket PC, your Outlook emails on your PC would get sent to the Outlook folder on your mobile device. Likewise, any emails you composed on your PDA would get sent to your PCs Outbox and sent out.

Nowadays, though, it's pretty useless since we all receive email directly on the device instead of by syncing with a PC. I wish I could get rid of it. In other words, there really is no good use for it now, just ignore it.

Originally Posted by tinpanalley

Can someone explain to me the purpose of Outlook on the TP2? And how exactly does it differ from just setting up my own POP3 email? What benefit is gained from setting up my email as Outlook instead of as regular email? I'm just not getting this.

If you are referring to the Outlook account inside the WM email program, that is used to synchronize your WM emails with MS Outlook on the desktop PC. That way when you connect via activesync, your phone will download all emails from your desktop outlook account. I have never used this feature.

However, your WM calendar is also synchronized with the desktop MS Outlook, which is a feature I use a lot.

Originally Posted by Commdr64

This is a holdover from the old days of the Pocket PC. Before Windows Mobile was running on phones, it was used on PDAs. The Outlook option in email allowed you to sync your email with your PC's outlook when connected with ActiveSync. When you synced your Pocket PC, your Outlook emails on your PC would get sent to the Outlook folder on your mobile device. Likewise, any emails you composed on your PDA would get sent to your PCs Outbox and sent out.
Nowadays, though, it's pretty useless since we all receive email directly on the device instead of by syncing with a PC. I wish I could get rid of it. In other words, there really is no good use for it now, just ignore it.

It's not just for synchronizing with Outlook on a PC directly -- it also synchronizes with Exchange server.
Outlook on my TP2, with Activesync, synchronizes all my Outlook-type data (Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and e-mail) with the same folders on my Exchange server.

I couldn't do this without Outlook (not interested in Gmail for important stuff -- too many false-positives in the spam folder), so it's not useless for me.

If you have a gmail account you can set up google sync through Active sync on your phone. It will push e-mails to your outlook inbox.

The level of ignorance on xda is growing. There was a time when a question like this would not be taken seriously, and most of the responses are ridiculous. Outlook is a client app. It rather seamlessly and natively handles synchronization of various kinds of data from either an exchange server (best option for pushing data) or POP3 or IMAP, etc. This data can include email, calendar, meeting requests, tasks, contacts, etc. I update information in one place and those changes are reflected on all my other devices instantly. That way all my devices have the same info, whether I'm at my desk, on OWA, on a pda or on my phone. Googlesync is a johnny-come-lately clone that tries to replicate the functionality of Outlook/exchange.

Originally Posted by treo...not!

The level of ignorance on xda is growing.

So is the percentage of assholes. Thanks for contributing.

The op is talking about the Outlook account that's listed amongst his other email accounts, I believe. I don't think he's talking about Outlook itself.

Originally Posted by Commdr64

So is the percentage of assholes. Thanks for contributing.

The op is talking about the Outlook account that's listed amongst his other email accounts, I believe. I don't think he's talking about Outlook itself.

the outlook account IS the activesync/exchange account, although i agree its silly to have it listed if its not configured