Outlook constantly prompting password, even if entered correctly!

I have a me.com email from apple and I have set this up with outlook 2011 for mac, the service is extremely unstable though...I get prompted for password constantly and can't send emails from my mail account and when I enter password that is correct it is not accepted. The web based mail application works perfectly fine, so I know my password is correctly. This must be a bug as it actually works occasionally... Or has iCloud changed the requirements on IMAP outgoing message settings? But seriously, it frustrates the **** out of me and I can't use my mail as it was intended and what I paid for. I have seen posts about this before, but none of the suggested solutions had any effects... like re-setting key chain, deleting and set-up mail account again, using back slash (\) before user name etc... NOTHING has worked... PLease someone help... and BTW it's freaki'n hard to find a support function from either apple or M-soft to contact... Dammit, I pay full license fee and stick to the books, but still when something goes south... tough ****... Shame on you for taking my money but no responsibility!