Anybody else having trouble with Microsoft Office 365 on Mac OS X 10.8.2?

brij011: I'm having the exact same problem with Office for Mac 2011 (OSX 10.8.2). I didn't ask for Office 365, nor do I have a need for it. The error message happens every time I am using an Office for Mac 2011 program (and not Outlook which I don't use ever). Anyone have any ideas on how to disable this 365 nonsense?

Hi!

I too have had problems with Macbook and Office 365. Changes on Macbook in Office for Mac (addresses and diary) failed to show on the server. Installing and reinstalling helped twice then stopped working. After failing to get ANY support from either Microsoft or Apple I switched to using the Mac native Address Book and Mail and iCal.

This all worked fine until today (about 3 months) when I am now getting the same issue. Changes in Address Book and iCal are not showing up on the server. Email is working fine.

Microsoft do not have a clue but on their forums there are many people suffering the same issues. No solution has been mentioned that I have seen has helped everyone. There are also several IT managers running several Macs suffering issues on some and not on others. I suspect they cannot solve it consistently because this is an Apple issue.

The attitude on this forum from some (go to MS) is typical of both sides of the equation... one blames the other and no solution is found.

I am a recent Apple convert but am thinking about returning to PC. I love the Apples and the iPads etc but if calendars and address books cannot work without being forced into the iCloud it's a total wipeout for me.

The problem is not that the Mac can't work with Exchange effectively - it very much can, and I have used Mac Mail and Calendar very effectively over an Exchange system for a long time and on a number of versions of Mac OS and on a range of different Mac hardware.

The problem is that Microsoft have configured their cloud Exchange service [Office365] in such a way as to make it not work well with the desktop versions Mac Calendar and Mail. [You may well find that the iOS syncing will work fine, even if the desktop version does not.]

The solutions would appear to be:

(1) change your Exchange service provider to a company more responsive to their customers (I've heard good things about Rackspace) - but this may be outwith your personal control;

(2) change your mail / calendar application to Microsoft Outlook - this does work, and is clearly the only client that Office365 is designed to work with.

There is no need to change the operating system.

Well said/explained. I have access through my desktop version (OSX) of Mail using a POP3 setup. I don't have calendar access at all through my desktop. A minor issue, but since I have iOS access to the desktop, it's not a big deal. What is curious to me is why the iOS setup was so flawlessly simple, yet the desktop set-up isn't. Anyway, I've got it working for me to the best of "it's" ability, and I can live with it. Others? Maybe it won't work so well....but then the easy solution for them is to install Office for Mac...

<Edited By Host>

Ignoring all the excitable chat here, there is a real issue for Apple to consider here:

"curious to me is why the iOS setup [for Exchange syncing] was so flawlessly simple, yet the desktop set-up isn't"

This is not because of the way you have configured your machine, it is a feature of the OS X Exchange syncing.

I am not qualified to explain the reason for this, far less to to suggest this is a bug, but it would be good to know

(1) why this is the case;

(2) whether it is something that might be resolved in the future;

(3) what one should ask of Exchange service providers to ensure that the (perfectly possible) seamless syncing to OS X occurs.

If anyone with technical knowledge can answer these, I'd be glad to hear.

Aulay wrote:

Ignoring all the excitable chat here, there is a real issue for Apple to consider here:

"curious to me is why the iOS setup [for Exchange syncing] was so flawlessly simple, yet the desktop set-up isn't"

Because 2 different protocols ara at work, ActivSync for mobile devices and Exchange for Macs and PC's. Not a feature, merely a fact.

As point of clarity:

It is the software manufacturer's obligation to provide a merchantable product for the destination hardware (manufacturer). In the case of computers, if the software is marketed as for use on specific destination hardware (Apple) without reference to a specific operating profile or version, then it should perform to the specification and function/ feature set otherwise it is not fit for purpose and a full refund would be due.

In practice most hardware/software companies liaise with interoperability issues in support of the joint customer experience.

Exactly.

Csound1 wrote:

Aulay wrote:

Ignoring all the excitable chat here, there is a real issue for Apple to consider here:

"curious to me is why the iOS setup [for Exchange syncing] was so flawlessly simple, yet the desktop set-up isn't"

Because 2 different protocols ara at work, ActivSync for mobile devices and Exchange for Macs and PC's. Not a feature, merely a fact.

Wonderful, thanks for telling us what we already know. Why don't you tell us why it is that ActiveSync works, and Exchange doesn't? THAT is what the rest of us are trying to figure out.

I'm out....

CalgaryRyan wrote:

Csound1 wrote:

Aulay wrote:

Ignoring all the excitable chat here, there is a real issue for Apple to consider here:

"curious to me is why the iOS setup [for Exchange syncing] was so flawlessly simple, yet the desktop set-up isn't"

Because 2 different protocols ara at work, ActivSync for mobile devices and Exchange for Macs and PC's. Not a feature, merely a fact.

Wonderful, thanks for telling us what we already know. Why don't you tell us why it is that ActiveSync works, and Exchange doesn't? THAT is what the rest of us are trying to figure out.

I'm out....

I don't have any problem using ML with Exchange servers, hosted or otherwise, either way is easy.

I have huge problem with OSX 10.8.2 and 365

since 10.7 the mail file hierachy(at finder) became a mess,

now i impossible drag the folders there.

And my background is i have around 40GB email put in Mailbox folder at Apple mail,

and now i would like to start to use office 365.exchange online.

As the data i have didn't connect to any account, the way i did is drag and drop them in the exchange folder in my mail. And first i cannot see is it running with a percent to finish or something like that, the mail activity only show single mail moving. usally i after i put a huge folder i will wait overnite.

The folder and sub folder alwasy moved no problem, but inside the messages, some of them are not moved!

Even i try the second, third time, some messages still doesn't move.

Personally i am still using 10.6, in 10.6 mail file hierachy i still can manual drag and drop in finder, i found i only need to change the mailbox extension, the mail can recognize it. At least i knew all the mail was there, just wait to upload. but in 10.8 i can't see any accurate status.

MAC OSX now is actually for fun, not for work, XXXX Apple , so i am still sticking with my 10.6

but problem is my boss already buy and download the latest stuff like he is using 27" lastest imac with 10.8.2

Now i am really no idea how to migrate accurately

Regards,

Jun

Much later down the road, but it seems the issue lies with OSX 10.8.x and whatever that update did to the Mail application.

It will quite happily connect to a physical Exchange server, but there's something just different enough with Office 365 and an Exchange server to make connecting through the Mail app impossible.

Options: Set the mailbox up as POP3 as you did or install Outlook: Mac 2011. Outlook connects to the server just fine.

Like you, I've got lots of Apple devices connected to our Office 365, but anyone using a Mac with OSX 10.8.x is SOL. Snow Leopard and Lion works just fine. iOS 6 works just fine. Mountain Lion is poo. Thanks for that little update, Apple! /headdesk

Hmmm...

Having read the latest post from someone about using Microsoft Office for Mac I beg to differ. I had all sorts of problems syncing with that. Installed, reinstalled, trouble-shooted... nothing but bother.

I am now running Mac native mail / address book etc with Office 365 but still having odd syncing problems. The latest one is when I input new names in the address book on the 365 server, they do not turn up on my Mac. They show up on my iPhone and my iPad but not the Mac.

Apple have very little interest saying that it is a Microsoft issue... which it CLEARLY IS NOT. Quite how they can make it work on some devices and not consistently on others beggars belief. It is perfect on the iPad but on their Macbook... hopeless.

It's worth pointign out that I never had even one problem with email in 15 years on a PC! Much as I do love Apple I suspect that things like this may prove to be their Achille's Heel. As they break further into corporate they need to sort out something as simple as email!

GavinI wrote:

Apple have very little interest saying that it is a Microsoft issue... which it CLEARLY IS NOT. Quite how they can make it work on some devices and not consistently on others beggars belief. It is perfect on the iPad but on their Macbook... hopeless.

It's worth pointign out that I never had even one problem with email in 15 years on a PC! Much as I do love Apple I suspect that things like this may prove to be their Achille's Heel. As they break further into corporate they need to sort out something as simple as email!

Interesting. Never had an issue with Mail. Still have no issues with Mail privately or in the business. Thus I have never needed to or been silly enough to ever allow a Microsoft product to infiltrarte my Mail system. Others have and now have issues. hmmmm. Coincidence? 😕

Pete

Considering Exchange is pretty much the corporate standard, Apple should be doing something to accomodate their equipment. And with life moving more and more into the cloud, the native Mail app should work with Office 365! I shouldn't constantly get an error trying to resolve the server information - which is the SAME SERVER INFORMATION I put into an iPad, iPhone, Android Phone, Windows Mail, Outlook, etc etc etc.

This is why IT guys beg Mac users to leave their gear at home where it belongs.