Outlook on the Desktop

Editors' ReviewDownload.com staffJuly 12, 2013Keeping Microsoft Outlook's calendar functions open without having to launch the entire e-mail application will be very handy for users who rely on a different e-mail client. But we had some view problems during our tests that may prove a problem to some users.Outlook on the Desktop lives up to its name: it loads an icon into the system tray, so merely clicking it launches the calendar. Configuring the font, colors, and the view (Day/Week/Month, entry previews, categories, and so forth) is simply a matter of choosing an option from a right-click menu. This free little utility functioned well in our tests, but it maintained a high level of transparency whenever it opened on our desktop. In fact, it was so transparent that the appearance of the icons under the calendar was more solid than the calendar, making the calendar's entries difficult to read at times. We found no means of adjusting this transparency.Some users may have difficulty with the view, but others may like its unobtrusive style. That being said, if you're looking for a way to keep your Outlook calendar within view, the free price makes it worth a shot.