End of Life – RLS Computer Services

Windows Mail End of Life Transition Guide

RLS Blogger — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:06:16 +0000

Windows Mail End of Life Transition Guide

With the discontinuation of Windows Mail and Calendar at the end of 2024, users may feel concerned about this change. Our expert team is here to facilitate this transition with confidence and clarity. We will help you understand the new Outlook and its implications, ensuring your email and calendar management remains seamless and secure. Our guidance on data migration and viable alternatives supports both home and business users in managing this change efficiently.

Introduction to Windows Mail Transition

Preparing for the Change

The transition from Windows Mail and Calendar requires careful preparation to ensure a smooth shift. Begin by staying informed about the timelines and what the new Outlook offers. Familiarise yourself with its features and assess how they align with your current needs. It’s also wise to audit your data, identifying emails and calendar items that are essential for transfer. Understanding the export process is crucial; you’ll want to know how to save your emails, contacts, and calendar events to a compatible format. Additionally, consider booking into 1-2-1 workshops or tutorials offered by us to gain hands-on experience with the new Outlook platform. This proactive approach not only mitigates disruptions but also enhances your ability in utilising the new tools effectively. By planning ahead, you ensure continuity and maintain your productivity throughout this transition period. Remember, preparation is key to a hassle-free changeover.

Why Windows Mail and Calendar are Ending

Microsoft’s Strategic Shift

Microsoft is discontinuing Windows Mail and Calendar to consolidate services under the new Outlook, streamlining user experience and reinforcing security. The new Outlook integrates with other Microsoft services, boosting productivity with a unified interface. This shift reflects Microsoft’s commitment to using AI to deliver smarter tools and maintain competitiveness.

Enhancing User Experience

Ending Windows Mail and Calendar is part of enhancing user experience by shifting to a more advanced platform. Outlook offers a user-friendly interface that integrates with Microsoft applications, reducing time spent navigating multiple tools. Its AI-driven features improve task management and security, providing a cohesive and secure digital environment.

What is the New Outlook Replacement?

Features of the New Outlook

The new Outlook integrates seamlessly into Windows, enhancing productivity and communication. It includes AI tools for prioritising emails and improved scheduling and security features.

Limitations and Differences

Some limitations of the new Outlook compared to Office Outlook include fewer advanced customisation features, such as a fully customisable ribbon, making this a streamlined version designed for efficient daily use. limited advanced search functionalities, and offline access. Understanding these differences helps determine if the new Outlook meets your specific needs or if other solutions are required.

Implications for Users

Transition Necessities

To continue accessing emails and scheduling tools, users must back up and export data, familiarise themselves with the new Outlook, and review system requirements to prevent compatibility issues. Staying updated on tools that enhance the new system’s functionality is beneficial for a smooth transition.

Benefits of Switching

Switching to the new Outlook offers improved security, streamlined workflow with integrated email and calendar management, and AI-driven tools for efficient communication. Outlook’s seamless integration with Microsoft services enhances collaboration and resource sharing, providing a modern and secure platform.

Data Migration Tips

Exporting Your Data

Exporting your data is the first step in transitioning. Identify emails, contacts, and calendar events to export using Windows Mail’s tools, saving them in a compatible format. Verify exported data for completeness to ensure a smooth migration.

Importing into New Outlook

After exporting, the main concern would be importing contacts data into the new Outlook using the ‘Import/Export’ feature. Follow prompts for file types like .csv. Review the imported data to ensure all content is transferred correctly.

Calendar Export and Import Process

Export calendar data in .ics format from Windows Calendar, then import it into your preferred application. Remember, always ensure data is correctly transferred and explore new app features.

Exploring Email Application Alternatives

Thunderbird Features

Thunderbird, is an open-source email client, allows customisation and supports multiple protocols. It offers strong search, security features, and a built-in calendar, suitable for those valuing freedom and customisation. There are a few alternatives to the new Outlook, however this the one we would recommend.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Preparing for a Seamless Transition

Start preparing for the transition well before the end-of-life date by backing up data and learning new tools. Establishing a transition plan minimises disruptions. Consider exploring alternative apps based on specific needs. Trial different options to find the best fit, ensuring productivity and ease of use in digital communication and organisation.

Accessing Further Resources

Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows

Feature comparison between new Outlook and classic Outlook

Windows 7, Windows 2008 Server and Office 2010 End of Support

Rob Lucas — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:33:28 +0000

If your business is still using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (Inc. Small Business Server 2008), then now is the time to consider your options on upgrading.

Microsoft is officially dropping extended support for all of these on January 14th 2020. So you need to get a action plan in place in plenty of time so your business is prepared and to reduce downtime in your business workflow.

We would also like to add that Microsoft Office 2010 is also End of Life come October 13th 2020, this not only has the same outcome as the Operating Systems but also new features are now available in Office 365 upgrades.

Does this mean my Windows computers & servers will stop working?

Solutions

When Windows Operating System reaches end of support, your computers and servers will still work. However, Microsoft will no longer provide security patches and updates. Whilst you could continue to use your unsupported computers and servers, this puts your business at a greater risk of viruses, vulnerabilities and compliance.

The answer is simple, upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and Windows Server 2019. There are many paths to this solution, one of which includes being under our Enterprise Managed Services and let us roll-out your upgrade. Move some of your infrastructure to the “Cloud” with Azure & SharePoint. We can move your legacy Exchange 2008 Server into the cloud and provide you a Managed Hosted Exchange platform including a migration plan so you will have little to no downtime, rather than investing in a new server.

Microsoft Office 365 subscription offers the latest version of the office suite and is updated on a regular basis. You still can purchase the office suite as a one-time purchase per licence however this limits you to that version.

Compare Office 365 subscription with Office 2019

Office 365 Subscription	Office 2019 One-Off Licence
Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote plus Publisher, Access and other essential business tools	Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote
Free Upgrades	No Upgrades
Multiple Devices per User	One Licence
1TB Cloud Storage per user	N/A
SharePoint Services	N/A
Managable Security Compliance	N/A

If you prefer, we can also provide new computing solutions and on-premise servers running the latest Windows OS from Fujitsu, that are energy efficient lowering the cost to run them and are cost effective. Or a combination of both, it really depends on your needs.

To learn more or arrange a evaluation of your IT, please contact Rob Lucas on 01553 776937 or email info@rlscomputers.co.uk.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO WINDOWS VISTA

Rob Lucas — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 07:17:33 +0000

Windows Vista was the Marmite of the Windows OS family, it introduced many features that carried on in to Windows 7 which became the adopted and the OS of choice. The quirky features of Vista tried to make it a fun tool with some practical elements. However, it quickly got replaced and in fact it is now three generations old being replaced by Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. This article explains why it is essential to say goodbye to Windows Vista and move on to Windows 10.

As I write this article, I have received in one week several calls from customers asking “why am I getting, no longer supported messages for Google Chrome and Internet Explorer?” Well the answer is simple, the chances are you are using Windows Vista and software manufacturers are keen to move away from it. As you read consider this, “why am I hanging on to Vista ?” Vista is slow, sluggish a beast sent in to test man’s metal to see if he (or she) could handle the change and with a blink of an eye we were given Windows 7, the most stable and loved OS to date.

To boot, hardware manufacturers will be following suit and ending support for Vista, this means if your printer, scanner, camera, sat-nav, etc. fails and you need to buy a new one, you would have to check that it is supported for use with Vista.

So what are your options?

One thing you can do is go back to your original purchase and check to see if you were given a dual load for both Windows Vista and Windows 7, some manufacturers gave away both, which means your PC, laptop or netbook is already compatible to run Windows 7 if you haven’t got a dual load system, you could purchase a Windows 7 upgrade (IF you can find one). However, you are only making a single jump up and will still be two generations behind.
Buy a new PC system, this is by far the most sensible option, it saves time and money trying to get a square peg to fit a round hole struggling to find replacement parts for your old system. There is one caveat, when you upgrade your PC you might have to upgrade your other tech, mainly this would be your printer as the jump from old to new is so significant because of WIFI compatibility and the need to print from iPad’s and other mobile devices.

I know what you are thinking, “Why don’t I just download Windows 10, it’s FREE?“. Well the answer is this, Microsoft have only provided the free upgrade for users of Windows 7 SP3 and upwards, this is because Windows 7 was the more stable release, with the right hardware requirements to take the upgrade. Again I hear those cogs working away and thinking, “OK so if I upgrade my PC to Windows 7, I can get the FREE upgrade to 10?“. Well although we haven’t tried this (to date), I can only go by my previous experience and say unlikely, this is because Microsoft leave a trace to the previous OS version meaning it knows the origins of the source OS making it almost unlikely that this would work, however it has not been tried and tested.

I said this before and so I am going to say it again, “the computing market is like no other (except maybe the car industry); it is constantly growing, changing and evolving. Last time I checked a burger was just a burger and a washing machine was just a washing machine. However the PC market changes and when it does we can embrace and move on, or simply sit back and let it pass us by.”

The key point is Microsoft are ending support Windows Vista SP2 in 11 April 2017 and therefore it makes it difficult for us in the industry to support something that software houses no longer support themselves.

We can supply a new PC, laptop or tablet loaded with Windows 10 and a subscription to Office 365 for home or business, also complete all your data transfers, safely and responsibly wipe and scrap your old unit.

For more on the life cycle of Microsoft Windows please visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/lifecycle

Rob Lucas MSc MBCS

End of Support for XP, SBS 2003 & Office 2003

Rob Lucas — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:37:10 +0000

Is your business still using Windows XP, Small Business Server (SBS) 2003, or Office 2003?

Microsoft is officially dropping support for all of these next month (April 8, 2014). So is your business or indeed home prepared for the possible security and software issues, and potential for downtime this will bring?

“Oh Great, How much is it going to cost me?…”

We always get asked this question however, not as much as you think. There are simple upgrade paths or new solutions that we can install that can get you Working Smarter and save you time and money that doesn’t always mean buying new server hardware and software licensing. We can also GUARANTEE you a quick and easy migration from your old system to a new one.

How?…

The answer is simple, move some of your infracstructure to the “Cloud”. As an example we can move your legacy Exchange 2003 Server into the cloud and provide Managed Hosted Exchange as an alternative to a new server. We also can provide new computers that are energy efficient lowering the cost to run them and are cost effective.

To learn more or arrange a evaluation of your IT, please contact Rob Lucas on 01553 776937 or email info@rlscomputers.co.uk

Please review Microsoft’s Windows XP end of support information