Slack Vs Microsoft Teams - user experience

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jaymz

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#2813019 15-Nov-2021 10:21

We went through a similar change for our internal communications.

In the past, we were using the free Slack subscription, but found there was too many limitations for the free version. Since we already pay for M365 licenses, it made more sense to switch over to Teams.

The bonuses we have found is that Teams has replaced our GoToMeeting software, as well as provide nice features like "email to channel" and other things.

There was some "teething" issues with the changeover, mainly with just getting used to the GUI and how to use it, but these have all but been forgotten about now.

I agree with the other reports of Teams being stable, I can't recall the last time there was a fault with the software itself.

lxsw20

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#2813021 15-Nov-2021 10:31

insane:

We used Slack side-by-side with Google Workspace hangouts/meet. I suspect if we were a MS shop it wouldn't have made sense to pay extra for Slack.

Google had their own Slack competitor they tried to launch. Hangouts Chat or something like that? It was an absolute joke of a product.

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#2813022 15-Nov-2021 10:36

I have a long-standing issue with teams on my home computer where the only way I can get the audio working in teams is to set my default device to whatever I need to use. I have my headset specifically configured in teams to be used, but it ignores it

Other than that, I really like teams and I hate slack with a passion that burns like a thousand fiery suns.

Kookoo

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#2813035 15-Nov-2021 10:55

Slack. A much more intuitive UI, significantly more reliable on desktop, plus a much more intuitive and reliable mobile app. Plug-ins are a real pain to configure, but if and once it's done - work like a charm.

Teams. Integrates with everything Office 365 but does it awkwardly, as an afterthought. The integration is addictively convenient though. Forces you down the Teams-driven structure on Sharepoint, like it or not. Crashes often in Win10 or Android. Like any MS messaging service, prepare to see mobile and desktop occasional get out of sync.

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Lias

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#2813066 15-Nov-2021 11:23

Teams isn't perfect but I prefer it over Slack. If you are paying for 365, it's a bit of a no brainer to use it.

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insane

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#2813072 15-Nov-2021 11:34

lxsw20:
insane:

We used Slack side-by-side with Google Workspace hangouts/meet. I suspect if we were a MS shop it wouldn't have made sense to pay extra for Slack.

Google had their own Slack competitor they tried to launch. Hangouts Chat or something like that? It was an absolute joke of a product.

Yeah Google's product strategy in this space has been a disaster, coupled by some attempt to monetise it via different licencing.

Meet, Hangouts, Chat, Spaces.. Different apps, then combined, then seperate, now part of Gmail.

Feels reminiscent of their social media attempts - poor.

Someone I worked with made a quick script and turned all our meeting rooms into Google Meet kiosks (combined with Logitech Group Hardware) that automatically populated the meetings etc onto the start screen. Enter room, click on meeting and done.

Magic, simple, id10t proof. Google could surely turn this all around in a heartbeat if they saw a way to fill it with Ads :P

/Sorry that was slightly off topic.

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blackjack17

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#2813321 15-Nov-2021 14:50

Kookoo:

Slack. A much more intuitive UI, significantly more reliable on desktop, plus a much more intuitive and reliable mobile app. Plug-ins are a real pain to configure, but if and once it's done - work like a charm.

Teams. Integrates with everything Office 365 but does it awkwardly, as an afterthought. The integration is addictively convenient though. Forces you down the Teams-driven structure on Sharepoint, like it or not. Crashes often in Win10 or Android. Like any MS messaging service, prepare to see mobile and desktop occasional get out of sync.

I have never had teams crash on either windows or android

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Dynamic

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#2813327 15-Nov-2021 15:04

I really like being able to upload site photos on iOS straight to the Teams app in the relevant channel. Doing this via the computer when I got back to the office (or emailing multiple photos) was a pain.

I have had this fail twice in the last 6 months for an inexplicable reason, and Google told me to clear the cache to resolve the issue. Desktop app is good to use, though I am unimpressed with the search functionality at present. Being able to set up an ac-hoc meeting with video is handy for troubleshooting, without having to ask if they use Apple or Samsung. They do have to download the Teams app but do not have to sign in.

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ANglEAUT

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#2813512 15-Nov-2021 20:33

Dynamic: ... though I am unimpressed with the search functionality at present. ...

Here is my 1000 fiery suns moment. Had to search for comments that were 9 months old. I could find the comment, but Teams did not display the surrounding messages so that I could get the full context of the discussion. I had to scroll back all the way so that the surrounding comments are loaded. Which now means that I am super verbose in my comments so that as much as possible is found in 1 post.

BTW, If you seriously use the "channels" in Teams, please PM me.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

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#2813517 15-Nov-2021 20:38

BarTender: ... My constant issue is I have with teams is I have a USB headset (Sennheiser) and whenever I plug it in mid-call if I forgot to plug it in before starting it always still defaults to the mic in the computer rather than the headphone mic, so the mute button doesn't work, and I always have to reconfigure it. Everything I have tried to fix that has failed. ...

Got a similar audio issue. Jabra headset connected via USB works flawlessly. Bluetooth connected head work great, except when sharing audio via video / PowerPoint. Teams complains about the default device & can't get the headset operational for the rest of the meeting.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

BarTender

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#2813580 16-Nov-2021 06:24

blackjack17: I have never had teams crash on either windows or android

The main issue is if you have a VPN to access your work internal environment and if you change network zones where on the corporate network and then home. Especially if there are O365 controls around login only if you’re on VPN and a maximum session length of 24 hours.
Teams just can’t handle anything changing from a network perspective without chucking its toys. Outlook doesn’t have the same problem whereas you would assume teams was far more resilient but no.

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Dulouz

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#2813626 16-Nov-2021 08:48

One of the limitations of Teams is there is a limit of 30 private channels over the life of a Team. I was using private channels as a means of managing projects. e.g. one project = one private channel. I realized on my 31st project that there is a limit. You can not delete private channels so it is a hard limitation. I switched to another project management system.

Amanon

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#2813627 16-Nov-2021 08:54

We use Slack in our tech teams and product development areas and Teams across our sales and other channels.

They both have their uses, but I like Teams more for its versatile nature. We also hold external meetings via Teams and it has the chat functionality, the ability to upload documents and files as well as the usual interactivity stuff, so it works well for us.

But our tech teams swear by Slack - they also swear ON slack, but that's a different discussion.

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blackjack17

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#2813641 16-Nov-2021 09:27

Dulouz:

One of the limitations of Teams is there is a limit of 30 private channels over the life of a Team. I was using private channels as a means of managing projects. e.g. one project = one private channel. I realized on my 31st project that there is a limit. You can not delete private channels so it is a hard limitation. I switched to another project management system.

Looks like deleted channels only count for 30 days.

Deleted channels can be restored within 30 days. During these 30 days, a deleted channel continues to be counted towards the 200 channel or 30 private channel per team limit. After 30 days, a deleted channel and its content are permanently deleted and the channel no longer counts towards the per team limit.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/limits-specifications-teams

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Dulouz

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#2813841 16-Nov-2021 12:53

blackjack17:

Dulouz:

One of the limitations of Teams is there is a limit of 30 private channels over the life of a Team. I was using private channels as a means of managing projects. e.g. one project = one private channel. I realized on my 31st project that there is a limit. You can not delete private channels so it is a hard limitation. I switched to another project management system.

Looks like deleted channels only count for 30 days.

Deleted channels can be restored within 30 days. During these 30 days, a deleted channel continues to be counted towards the 200 channel or 30 private channel per team limit. After 30 days, a deleted channel and its content are permanently deleted and the channel no longer counts towards the per team limit.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/limits-specifications-teams

Now I recall - I didn't want to delete the channels. I wanted to archive them.

Amanon

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