Outlook 2007 Gets Big Performance Update
I don’t use Outlook anymore but I know that a lot of folks use it for email. The program has always bogged down when the user files get too big, and Microsoft has released an update for Outlook 2007 that addresses these performance issues.
The guidelines from Microsoft for this updated version demonstrate clearly how bigger files are now handled better:
- Up to 5 gigabytes (GB): This size should provide a good user experience on most hardware.
- Between 5 GB and 10 GB: This size is typically hardware dependent. Therefore, if you have a fast hard disk and much RAM, your experience will be better. However, slower hard drives, such as drives that are typically found on portable computers or early generation solid state drives (SSDs), experience some application pauses when the drives respond.
- More than 10 GB: This size is where short pauses begin to occur on most hardware.
- Very large, such as 25 GB or larger: This size increases the frequency of the short pauses, especially while you are downloading new e-mail. Alternatively, you can use Send/Receive groups to manually sync your mail.
It’s clear that this new version of Outlook 2007 handles huge .PST/ .OST files much better than older versions, so it’s not an update to skip over. The update is pushed out to your system if you use Microsoft Update; otherwise, check for updates to make sure you have it. The list of other improvements and bug fixes is massive, so check it out in this Microsoft article.
(via bink.nu)
That is the most confusing article. I saw it a few weeks ago and passed. First of all, they are described as “hotfixes” which has its on connotation. Second, there are two different ones:
To download the updates for Outlook, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
961752 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961752/ ) Description of the Outlook 2007 hotfix package (Outlook.msp): February 24, 2009
For full Outlook functionality, you can install the Cumulative Update package that is associated with the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
967688 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967688/ ) Description of the Outlook 2007 hotfix package (Outlook-en-us.msp): February 24, 2009
Do I want the one for Outlook, or the one with full outlook functionality?
Confused, and sitting here with underperforming OL2007 on Vista.
Agreed.
Where do they hide the instructions of how to update programs.
Most other software companies provide a single button to click to download and install updates.
Given that 99.5% of users are not associated with an IT department, some plain instructions for the rest of us lusers would be apprectiated Microsoft!
As James mentioned, the updates are now going to be rolled out via Windows Update so there’s no need to download the hotfixes or click on buttons (assuming that you have WU set to download and apply patches automatically).
James:
If you had not given up your consulting work, do you think you would still be a full time tablet pc/Outlook user?
Scott, taking notes in ink that were searchable was a major part of that work so the answer is yes. I was using other things in my home office but Outlook/ OneNote on the Tablet were my lifeblood.
Well like a Muppet I went and applied the upgrades… Now Windows OneCare fails to start and will not open.
Coincidence perhaps?
Anyway… could not even uninstall OneCare via the control panel, and had to download a special tool to do so. Most frustrating.
Boca, consider cancelling OneCare. MS has already cancelled it. They will provide updates for a while longer, maybe another 12-18 months, but it isn’t a priority for them anymore. I removed it from my home LAN and bought a 5 pack of AVG Antivirus.
This isn’t going to be pushed out through Windows Update anytime soon, the only way you’ll get it is as a hotfix, or if your company decides to push it out using WSUS.
It will be pushed out as part of Office/Outlook 2007 SP2.