Please recommend me a e-mail client

[Norse]

I've been using Thunderbird for a few years, but I would like to try a different client. What do you guys recommend? It needs to best Thunderbird's feature set and be free.

[fitbabits]

Thunderbird.

[Norse]

Thx, I might give it a try ;)

[Spectre-7]

Thunderbird.

For some reason, I doubt that bests Thunderbird's feature set.

[KingGorilla]

What features do you see Thunderbird lacking? Does it disappoint in how it receives messages and stores contact information. Do you want one that gives handjobs?

[rifter]

Personally, I use Gmail to check my mailboxes, and use it for everything. I use Outlook at work, and quite honestly, love Outlook on Exchange, but I have never been a big fan of it, for SMTP. Gmail now has chat, calendar, and tasks all built in, and available on your front page.

[civil]

Do you want one that gives handjobs?
What, you haven't put that add-on yet? I can never go back to boring email again.

Also, though I use TB the spam/junk filter on it sucks a big bag of donkey dicks.

[Norse]

What features do you see Thunderbird lacking? Does it disappoint in how it receives messages and stores contact information. Do you want one that gives handjobs?

YES

I don't really know what features TB lacks, but it has been crashing a bit too often for me. That's probably the main reason for me to try something else.

One feature I would like is an easy way to export all my contacts, mails, folders, settings so I can use the same setup on several PC's. I guess no client has this feature unless it's server based like exchange/outlook.

[KingGorilla]

Unfortunately a Microsoft dominated field there. Even for Mac it is all about office.

Are you looking to find a client that will also sync contacts and dates on a mobile? Or just better interoperability on multiple computers?

[Norse]

Unfortunately a Microsoft dominated field there. Even for Mac it is all about office.

Are you looking to find a client that will also sync contacts and dates on a mobile? Or just better interoperability on multiple computers?

This.......

[Inspector Fowler]

I also use Gmail for everything except my work e-mail account. I have had virtually no problems getting it to work with my Blackberry or anything else, and my e-mail thus works and looks the same on any computer with any OS.

[DiBiddilyBop]

I swear by gmail. I used to use Thunderbird to pick up my gmail account, but then realized that was just stupid and ditched Thunderbird to use the web interface exclusively. Haven't looked back.

[Norse]

I can't use GMAIL since I need to use my existing e-mail address :(

[Stmfuller]

I can't use GMAIL since I need to use my existing e-mail address :(

create a Gmail address and autoforward your old Email to your new one?
that's what I did...and it rules.

[Goronmon]

create a Gmail address and autoforward your old Email to your new one?This is what I was going to say.

[Stmfuller]

This is what I was going to say.

and it's nice because I can have 4-5 different Email addys but not have to check 10 different websites.
plus I filter all of it to my blackberry.
So, awesome!

[Murtaug]

Another for Gmail.

I have been using it since it launched and never looked back. The only other email address I have is my work email. I have never had a single issue with Gmail and it does everything I could want it to do. I never have to worry about backing anything up, I can access it on my phone, from work, wherever. Plus it does a pretty damn good job with filtering spam, I get maybe one or two that make it through a week, if that.

Just forward your old address to the new one and don't look back.

[KingGorilla]

create a Gmail address and autoforward your old Email to your new one?
that's what I did...and it rules.

This will not work if he is using this account for business purposes. People will expect his outgoing mail to have the same address, and we are back to the same boat as the remote G-mail will not have his sent items.

The over-riding problem is that Norse you have an existing e-mail based on a different server protocol than what you need. There are exchange options, and rather wonky mail forwarding ways to aggregate your inbox. But what you need/want is a way to turn your existing e-mail and address into a functioning exchange server, for remote access, without web-mail. I know of no way to accomplish this.

If you do not need to access your mail outside of your home/business, you could create a remote[local] mail server that you can set multiple outlook instances(computers) to use and sync to. But once you go outside of that environment, I am stumped.

[Bone]

This will not work if he is using this account for business purposes. People will expect his outgoing mail to have the same address, and we are back to the same boat as the remote G-mail will not have his sent items.

Actually. Gmail can check other accounts, AND can send from the same address as well. It's all in the Settings window.

You can use Gmail to check all of your old accounts this way. Soon, Google is planning to offer Offline Gmail as well. You could combine Gmail with Thunderbird (checking your Gmail with IMAP) to archive all of your stuff locally if you are concerned with that.

[Voodoo]

create a Gmail address and autoforward your old Email to your new one?
that's what I did...and it rules.
gMail can also download email from other SMTP based email servers [up to 5]. :) You can also do a 'send as account' through gMail too.

Bone beat me to it. :)

[Stmfuller]

This will not work if he is using this account for business purposes. People will expect his outgoing mail to have the same address, and we are back to the same boat as the remote G-mail will not have his sent items.

The over-riding problem is that Norse you have an existing e-mail based on a different server protocol than what you need. There are exchange options, and rather wonky mail forwarding ways to aggregate your inbox. But what you need/want is a way to turn your existing e-mail and address into a functioning exchange server, for remote access, without web-mail. I know of no way to accomplish this.

If you do not need to access your mail outside of your home/business, you could create a remote[local] mail server that you can set multiple outlook instances(computers) to use and sync to. But once you go outside of that environment, I am stumped.honestly, he's the dork that wants something for nothing. IMO there are 3 choices. Outlook (MS), Mail (apple), and Thunderbird. If he has a windows pc and doesn't like thunderbird (really the only good free option IMO) then he should just suck it up and buy outlook. It'll do what he wants, is worth the money, and is really a good client.
/end rant
ps. sorry, I hear this a lot. I want the sun the moon and the stars but I don't want to pay for it.
Sometimes, you just have to buck up and slap down the money

[Norse]

Looks like I need to give GMAIL another look. Can I create folders in GMAIL? I "need" to be able to archive my mail in folders.

[Stmfuller]

Looks like I need to give GMAIL another look. Can I create folders in GMAIL? I "need" to be able to archive my mail in folders.

the answer to this question is yes.

[Norse]

Great, thanks!

[total]

Another vote for gmail. It does pretty much everything you want it to.

[rifter]

the answer to this question is yes.

Actually, I think the answer is NO... (with a big BUT there)...

Gmail uses labels, which are superior to folders. You can add multiple labels... and not have to copy the same email across different folders.

As others have said, you can use gmail to check other accounts. Which is what I do. It won't check Yahoo or Hotmail, though. :-(

If, like me, you get an Android phone... EVERYTHING about your contacts is at your fingertips. It is amazingly awesome.

You can also access your email, from any web interface... It is all saved with their HUGE size limits.

It also integrates into all of their services... Gmail just rules.

[Bone]

Gmail uses labels, which are superior to folders. You can add multiple labels... and not have to copy the same email across different folders. Very true. And if you use IMAP, I understand it turns labels into folders (for example, if you were backing up your Gmail onto a Thunderbird client).


As others have said, you can use gmail to check other accounts. Which is what I do. It won't check Yahoo or Hotmail, though. :-( There are ways (http://lifehacker.com/software/gmail/how-to-read-your-hotmail-from-gmail-241120.php).... not elegant, but ways. It's because of Hotmail and Yahoo's limitations anyway ;)

[KingGorilla]

I too should give Gmail another look. Why do they not promote these features? Like the biggest story they put out last year was smilies.

[Stmfuller]

Actually, I think the answer is NO... (with a big BUT there)...

you've got a big butt. :p

[Talanvor]

Eh, I'd rather be able to organize my e-mail in a way that doesn't break my brain. Why file important stuff when you can just search for it? arrrggghhh!!1

Anyway, I'm okay with Thunderbird. Too bad my primary is a Y! address, which doesn't offer POP access unless you want to run an additional program that fakes it, bleh. I thought TBird would have built that in by now.

[muddi900]

The Opera Mail isn't bad. I'm just putting it out as an alternative. I personally use Gmail. Google is currently working on the hand-job option.

[Norse]

I guess I should thank you guys for recommending Gmail. I've now made the switch and all my mail accounts are downloaded in Gmail. I use Thunderbird with IMAP on my computers, so the feature I wanted (synchronizing my mail on several PC's) is now working.