Switching from Windows Mail to either Mac Mail.app or Mac Outlook (help!)

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Level 1

74 points

Switching from Windows Mail to either Mac Mail.app or Mac Outlook (help!)

Hello,

My wife has been using Windows since forever but I'll be getting her a new Mac next week. I've been using Macs since the Mac Plus so I'm comfortable with her making the switch. The one main question I have is about her email.

I registered a domain for her a number of years ago (she uses POP3) and she uses that domain for her email. She currently uses the basic Windows Mail application (not Outlook). She has a large number of emails filed away into a ton of nested folders in Windows Mail.

I'm debating if I should have her use the Mac's Mail app or if I should but Outlook for Mac for her (part of the Mac Office suite). A few questions:

If I have her use the Mac's Mail app, is there a way for me to export all of her contacts and emails from Windows Mail (including the way all of her emails are organized into folders) and then import those into the Mac's Mail app? (and Contacts)
Does the Mac's Mail app support a lot of folders, nested multiple levels deep? The last time I checked (a number of years ago) it seemed like nested folders to organize downloaded emails was an afterthought at that time.
Any idea how I would go about exporting saved emails and contacts from Windows Mail and import them into either Mac Mail or Mac Outlook?

Thanks!

Posted on Apr 17, 2011 10:32 AM

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Answer 1

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Apr 17, 2011 2:39 PM in response to Rothgarr

10.6 Mail forum here:

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/mac_os_x_v10.6_snow_leopard#/?tag Set=1007

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Answer 2

Apr 17, 2011 3:00 PM in response to Rothgarr

Mail allows for nested folders and complex rules for automatically filing items into these folders as they're downloaded to your local computer.

Any switch in technology can be a little daunting and annoying at times, before you try transferring a lot of sensitive information let her use Mail.app for a week or so and get to know her way around and feel comfortable with the features, then make a decision on how to import old information.

Outlook for mac is a large complex and expensive piece of software, there are other mail options available in the App store if Mail doesn't cut it.

If she wants to try the new program and you don't want to disrupt your POP3 settings on that domain, try a google account.

I'm not sure how Outlook is made available, but there are many Windows emulation programs if she cannot leave some programs behind.

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Answer 3

Apr 17, 2011 3:26 PM in response to Rothgarr

Hi Rothgarr,

The Problem is to Convert the Windows Mail file Format (eml) into Mac Mail file fomat (mbox).

I think the easy Way to use imap on your Mail Domain Account, push the Mail from the Windows Mail App up on the Server and down in to the Apple Mail. If you can all Mail inclusive Folders. Then you can Import all Emails into Apple Mail. Thats it, no Convert needed.

Then you Must define the Rules for sorting the Mails into the new Folders.

After that you can still use pop3. I think it is the Best Way. Outlook for Mac is little bit Overkill.

Greetings

Felix

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Answer 4

Rothgarr Author

Level 1

74 points

Apr 19, 2011 7:28 AM in response to Rothgarr

Thanks everyone.

I already ordered her Office for Mac 2011 Business edition which comes with Outlook.

I'll let her try the OS X's Mail app first. She's used Windows Mail, Outlook Express, and full Outlook all her life so I'm sure it wouldn't be too much for her if she decided to use Outlook (and I bet moving her existing email would be easier).

if she does want to use OS X Mail, I'll try that IMAP trick.

Thanks again!

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