Macs & Exchange
Many Mac users have reported a variety of issues using Exchange with Microsoft Entourage and sometimes also with Apple Mail. The most common issues are listed below, followed by a comparison of all Mac options for Exchange.
We are testing a newly released update to Entourage 2008 (EWS) that MAY help address some of the following issues. Mail, iCal and Address Book in the newly released Snow Leopard also address some of these problems.
Commonly reported Mac issues with Exchange, Apple Mail and Entourage
- Late sending/delivery of email - This occurs because of the way Entourage handles temporary storing of data (caching), and we cannot change it. The Entourage EWS update does not completely resolve this issue. These delays also occurred in Apple Mail.
- Mailing lists, and mailing lists that include mailing lists, do not work consistently
- Global Address List (GAL) not available – The Entourage EWS update appears to correct the problem with the GAL
- Moving messages to other mailboxes does not work correctly; Entourage copies the message instead of moving it - This appears to also be related to caching problems. These problems also occurred in Apple Mail.
- Attachments to mail messages do not work correctly – Attachment problems occurred in both Entourage and Apple Mail.
- Scheduling resources is difficult - This is partly because the GAL is not available in Entourage. The Entourage EWS update does not completely resolve this issue.
- Delegate meeting scheduling works poorly - This appears to also be due to caching and permissions problems. The Entourage EWS update does not resolve it.
- Permissions do not work properly - We are working with Microsoft to find a resolution to this. The new EWS update does not appear to resolve it.
- Unable to appropriately manage resource calendars - This is not addressed by the Entourage EWS update. We are working with Microsoft to find a resolution.
- Task integration is missing - We are working with Microsoft to find a resolution.
- Meetings take a long time to appear in others' calendars - This appears to be resolved with the EWS upgrade to Entourage.
Outlook through Citrix |
Outlook with Parallels Solution |
Entourage 2008 EWS Update |
OWA Light Solution |
Mail, iCal, Address Book with Snow Leopard |
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Solution Description |
Install Citrix Web access client on the user’s desktop. Use Citrix to access Outlook 2007 and OWA Premium for calendaring To request access to Citrix, please contact the OIT Help Desk at 574-631-8111. |
Install Parallels on an Intel Macintosh. Install Windows and Office 2007 for Windows. Use Outlook 2007 or IE (for OWA Premium for calendaring. The OIT strongly recommends that anyone installing Parallels work with their department IT support staff. |
Download this updated Web Services edition of Entourage 2008 from the Microsoft web site. PLEASE NOTE: The OIT is doing final testing of the recently released EWS for Entourage, and does not yet fully support it. |
Existing email and calendar solution available via any browser at owa.nd.edu Not all calendar features are available in OWA Light. |
Upgrade Intel Macs to OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or purchase an Intel-based Mac with Mac OS 10.6 installed. PLEASE NOTE: The OIT is testing the new Apple OS Snow Leopard, and does not yet fully support this OS version. |
Intended User Description |
The Outlook solution through Citrix is intended for Mac users who do not get the full functionality that they need in a native Mac client (e.g.,Resource Management) The Outlook through Citrix solution is intended for additional calendar functionality, and should not be used as an alternative email client. |
The Outlook with Parallels solution is intended for Mac users who do not get the full functionality that they need in a native Mac client (e.g.,Resource Management)
While the Parallels with Outlook solution could be used for mail, users will likely need to convert their mail to Outlook. A user who wishes to change back to a native Mac solution (when there is one that satisfies the need) they will have to do another mail conversion. Multiple mail conversions can be very challenging. |
The Entourage EWS solution is intended for Mac users who prefer to stay on a native Mac solution. |
The OWA Light solution is intended for low volume, non-delegate users of the calendar.
OWA Light can also be used as a mail solution, but does not provide local mail storage. |
The Mail, iCal, & Address Book solution with Snow Leopard is intended for Mac users who prefer to stay on a native Mac solution. |
What Solution Addresses |
Citrix with Outlook addresses the primary calendaring issues Mac users report, including: - Meetings not showing up/delays in showing up on calendar - Resource management - Setting permissions - Acting as a delegate (slow calendar load) |
Parallels with Outlook addresses the primary calendaring issues Mac users report, including: - Meetings not showing up/delays in showing up on calendar - Resource management - Setting permissions - Acting as a delegate (slow calendar load) |
The Entourage EWS solution addresses the primary calendaring issues Mac users report, including: - Meetings not showing up/delays in showing up on calendar The Entourage EWS solution does not address the following calendaring issues Entourage users report: - Resource management - Setting permissions - Acting as a delegate (slow calendar load) |
The OWA Light Solution provides basic calendaring capability for the low-volume calendar user. It does not address the issues Entourage users report. |
The Mail, iCal, & Address Book solutions in Snow Leopard address the primary calendaring issues Mac users report, including: - Ability to access the GAL - Meetings not showing up/delays in showing up on calendars - Setting permissions - Acting as a delegate (slow calendar load) - Scheduling resources - Task integration |
Solution Pros |
- A consistent, reliable calendar solution that addresses the major issues Mac calendar users experience - Outlook operates seamlessly and efficiently for Mac users |
- A consistent, reliable calendar solution that addresses the major issues Mac calendar users experience - Assuming the user has an appropriately powered machine, Outlook operates seamlessly and efficiently |
- A native Mac solution - Addresses some of the big issues that Entourage calendar users experience |
- Existing solution with native Mac capability |
- A native Mac solution - Addresses some of the big issues that Entourage calendar users experience |
Solution Cons |
- Not a native Mac solution - Outlook through Citrix should not be used as an alternative email client, to prevent later mail migration problems |
- Not a native Mac solution - Requires Windows license and installation of Office 2007 for Windows |
Does not address all of the issues identified by Entourage calendar users, including: - Resource management - Setting permissions - Acting as a delegate |
Does not address all of the issues Entourage calendar users identify, including: - Resource management - Setting permissions - Acting as a delegate OWA Light also has other limitations, including: - Track attendance by person - Create, view or delete group schedules - Grant/share calendar rights - View shared calendar -Create/assign Color Categories - View calendars side‐by‐side or as overlay - Copy a meeting - Reminders - View list of invitees and response status |
Does not address all of the issues Entourage calendar users identify, including: - Resource management - No real-time information (only timed updates) - Full control over exact delegate permissions is still lacking but improved over Entourage |