OEM Windows Mobile 2003 Upgrades Promising Outlook 2003 and Not Delivering?

[Jason Dunn]

I received a note from a reader who ordered the Viewsonic Windows Mobile 2003 upgrade, and their <a href="http://www.viewsonic.com/pdf/Microsoft_Pocket_PC_2003_FAQ.pdf">upgrade FAQ stated</a> that users would also get a copy of Outlook 2003 in addition to the actual OS upgrade. The problem is that the upgrade package this reader received had Outlook XP (2002) on it, not 2003. Upon contacting Viewsonic, they told me it was a typo in their documentation - users are supposed to get Outlook 2002. Viewsonic isn't alone however: <a href="http://www.hp.com/sbso/special/ppc_upgrade_faq.html ">check out this HP document</a>. I wonder if all the OEMs are making the same mistake?<br /><br />I'm actually surprised that the OEMs are offering any version of Outlook - the original owners of the devices would have received Outlook with their devices...perhaps it's a bundle with ActiveSync directly from Microsoft?<br /><br />Anyone else had an experience like this when ordering their upgrade CD? What do Dell and Toshiba do?

[doogald]

Dell promises - and ships - Outlook 2002.

[RobertCF]

That's my experience as well. My wife purchased an X5 a few months ago and it came with PPC2k2 and Outlook 2000. My more recently purchased X5 w/WM2k3 came with Outlook 2k2 (as expected). When I purchased the WM2k3 upgrade for my wife's unit it came with Outlook 2k2. The upgrade went flawlessly, by the way.

[ch_thom]

Jason,

I think this is just a simple typo on the part of HP.

The HP Announcement Information states:

What did Hewlett-Packard (HP) announce?
HP has announced to customers who have recently purchased or who own the iPAQ Pocket PC h5400, h3900 or h3800 Series products have the opportunity to upgrade the Operating System from MS Pocket PC 2002 with MS Outlook 2000 software to MS Pocket PC 2003 with MS Outlook 2002 software.

This seems pretty clear that they will be offering Outlook 2002 with the upgrade.

Later on in the document it states:

What software will be included on the Pocket PC 2003 Upgrade CD-ROM?
The Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 Operating Syste, Microsoft Outlook 2003 and MS ActiveSync 3.7 will be included. Also, HP software which consists of updates to support the new operating system as well as key software deliverables to support your product.

I would say that this is a simple typo - the person writing the document was probably locked into the number 2003 after typing the operating system name. You'll note that they also typed Syste instead of "System".

Microsoft could probably make things easier and avoid all of this confusion if they didn't keep tagging the year suffix onto the end of every new item of software they release.

[David Prahl]

My Axim X5, which I bought the first week it was available, came with Outlook 2000.

But it doesn't install. Neither does the CD that came with a new X5 that a friend bought a month ago.

Ahem....&lt;annoyed mother voice> DELL!!! &lt;/annoyed mother voice>

[ricksfiona]

I bought the PPC 2003 upgrade for my IPAQ 3870 and it's been GREAT! HP and Compaq has always been great at supporting their products.

[freitasm]

I've noticed this when I opened my H3970 WM2003 upgrade a couple of months ago... Really bad, but HP support is not good anyway. I called them on the date it was supposed to be out, and the person said "You have to call Microsoft to get updates". :roll: Only after I talked to the NZ Mobile Devices manager things were clarifieid with the robots in their call centre.

[Jimmy Dodd]

Microsoft could probably make things easier and avoid all of this confusion if they didn't keep tagging the year suffix onto the end of every new item of software they release.

Heck, I'd be happy if they'd just pick a format and stick with it.

NT, 2000, XP, 2003... :roll:

[PocketExpert]

What do Dell and Toshiba do?

Dell shipped Outlook 2002 (XP) with the Upgrade CD. Don't know what Toshiba did, they didnt even provide an EUU3 for my E570 :-(

[MonkeyGrass]

Toshiba issued a statement that there is no reason to provide an upgrade, since Outlook 2000 was included with our original purchase and it provides the latest available technology to end users. :roll:

Err... Or they couldn't get it to work with their PDA's.


Or they just don't give a rats a$$ about the people who bought their products.

After all, didn't you hear? Pocket PC is dead.

[Fritzly]

Toshiba is just confirming how cheap the company is! In order to fully exploit the potential of Win2003 you need to use OK2003.
The fact that previous versions are compatible doesn't mean that the customer experience is the same.

[Jason Dunn]

In order to fully exploit the potential of Win2003 you need to use OK2003.

I'm curious as to why you'd say that - in ways is Outlook 2003 required?

[lombard0]

My Toshiba WM2003 upgrade CD has Outlook 2002 Tech Upgrade on it.

[yvilla]

My Toshiba WM2003 upgrade CD has Outlook 2002 Tech Upgrade on it.
Mine too.

[Janak Parekh]

... and my iPAQ 3870's upgrade has Outlook 2002 as well.

I'm 99% certain this is a Microsoft-set thing -- bundle O2k2 with WM2003. Toshiba and HP are to blame for not bothering to double-check their webpages, nothing more... :|

--janak

[ctmagnus]

bundle O2k with WM2003.

Shouldn't that be O2k2? ;)

[beq]

Microsoft could probably make things easier and avoid all of this confusion if they didn't keep tagging the year suffix onto the end of every new item of software they release.

Heck, I'd be happy if they'd just pick a format and stick with it.

NT, 2000, XP, 2003... :roll:

Hey remember when they tried to label everything .NET (though they wised up)? :)

[Janak Parekh]

Shouldn't that be O2k2? ;)
Yes. I edited one place, forgot to edit the other. Sigh...

--janak