Exchange Server 2010 OWA - Missing Feature (adding notes) and Clarifcation of Multi-Browser Support

Ehlo All,

During last night's NY Exchange Server User Group meeting after Angi Livermore's excellent Exchange Server 2010 HA technical presentation and demo, I gave a demo comparing Exchange 2007 Outlook Web Access to Exchange 2010 Outlook Web App and found a missing feature. I initially called it a bug, but I bet you Microsoft omitted the feature to release the product sooner. So, while 2010 OWA add some new features (below), the loss of adding notes is a major pain point. Also, a clarification of the multi-browser support.

Some New Features for OWA 2010

• Premium mode for non-IE browsers. Firefox on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Safari on the Mac. Safari does NOT work on Windows. I tested this with Safari 4.0.3 (531.9.1) on XP SP3. Safari on Windows is OWA Light only.
  
• Favorite Folders. Ability to add a Favorite folder. These are shown in the top left. Favorite Folders from Outlook to OWA are not shared.
• Ability for end user's to view email delivery reports. No more end users saying "did my email arrive yet?". The delivery report shows date and time the email left the Exchange Server organization and was delivered to an outside email server.
  
• Threaded email message conversations. All related emails are saved under one message (thread) in your Inbox. This is similar to how gmail's email conversation work or will exist in Outlook 2010 when it's released.
  
• Multiple Calendars. You can view multiple calendars in OWA and send a calendar share request from within OWA.
  
• Ability for the end user to change AD attributes [phone #, address, etc]. As per Angi, admins can disable this functionality.
  

Missing Feature for OWA 2010

• Unable to post a note. This existed in OWA 2003 and 2007. Below are screen shots showing this. This was tested using Microsoft's Exchange Server 2010 UC Trial Service. I debated replicated this with the RTM, but haven't had a chance. I mentioned this to a Microsoft rep to confirm this issue. If you notice, the only 2 drop-down options when in the Notes folder is to create an email message or meeting request.
  

Exchange 2010 OWA Premium Mode - attempting to add a Note. Click to view full image.

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Exchange 2007 OWA Premium Mode - adding a Note is possible. Click to view full image.























I'm a big fan of OWA and the new support for Firefox, but the lack of adding notes is a pain since I heavily use notes. Hopefully Microsoft fixes this as soon as possible.

-Ben

Microsoft Addresses a MAJOR Issue I have with Exchange 2007's OWA

Ehlo All,

I heard great news last week that addresses the reduced set of functionality in Exchange 2007's Outlook Web Access. Exchange 14's OWA will be support 3 browsers, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. I did a triple-take when I read it the first time. Y-E-S. 3 browsers supported in E14's OWA. No decision on which platform for these browsers since they are dual platform apps.

I actually lost functionality in upgrading to the latest greatest version of Exchange 2007 from 2003. OWA Basic in 2003 supported access to Public Folders, in OWA Lite (aka Basic mode), access disappeared. Thankfully enough people complained that Microsoft is planning according to a Exchange rockstar Paul Robichaux, aka Exchange MVP. You can read the full article by Paul here & his reference to the MS blog that announced this amazing information.

I'll definitely be upgrading to E14 when it's released. And adios to ActiveX for OWA. There won't be a wet eye in my house for this loss.

-Ben

OWA Light Comparison from Exchange 2003 to 2007

Ehlo All,

So, I upgraded to Exchange 2007 this past week. The primary focus of this blog post is OWA Light difference between 2003 and 2007. Reason is, I frequently use OWA on non-IE browser to access Public Folders and was surprised to see existing features in OWA 2003 removed. So, I wondered what else was missing in action (or added) from OWA Light on 2007. Here is the list. [-] means feature is missing from new version. [+] means feature is added in 2007.

If you have a lot of OWA Light users, I would seriously consider staying on Exchange 2003 or leaving OWA users on Exchange 2003 while having other users on Exchange 2007.

What others talked about....
Exchange Product Team Discussing OWA Light 2007 - it seems OWA Light only gained feature according to the Exchange Team.

Figured I would share since OWA is discussed...
Exchange Product Team Discussing Exchange 14 (aka E14). Not much detail except talk about the 3.5 million beta testers and "empowering" end users with distribution list & GAL control. Not very sexy.

OWA 2007 OWA Light - to summarize, is the bare essential in webmail. So, that's email, calendar, & contacts. Nada mas.
[-] Calendar (Daily View Only)
[-] NO Public Folders Access
[-] NO Tasks
[+] Quickly jump to a subfolder (via drop-down)
[+] Easily rename/move/delete folders
[+] Ability to search in Address Book
[+] Ability to change AD password
[+] View a partnered Windows Mobile device

OWA 2003 OWA Light
[+] Calendar (Daily & Weekly)
[+] Public Folders
[+] Tasks

To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. Come on Microsoft, add features, don't remove otherwise folks will jump to other web based email products like GMa... you know what I'm talking about. :-)

I'll blog more about differences in the future and the migration in general.

-Ben