Outlook V Thunderbird

[soisicknote]

which 1 is more idiot proof and reliable, outlook express or mozilla thunderbird ??

[Tywais]

I switched to Thunderbird quite a while ago due to having better spam filtering, message filtering, simpler to do multiple accounts, etc. Would not even consider going back to OE. Of course, this is my personal opinion and others will post their experiences.

[Guest Reimar]

I use The Bat for years and it's an excellent Client. Unfortunate it's Payware and not free.

Using multiple accounts, Spam Filtering. Virus check and much more, I even not start thinking about an other prog!

Cheers.

[Tywais]

I use The Bat for years and it's an excellent Client. Unfortunate it's Payware and not free.

Same here, used The Bat for some time (and agree it is very good). Actually got it free since I was a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals and it was one of the perks. I have since lost the copy and decided to try Thunderbird, and as you mention it is free.

[Insight]

I've gone back to OE after getting frustrated with Thunderbird. Main reason for moving back to OE was the way Thunderbird would always try and poll the IMAP server for every folder I clicked on, even though it had downloaded a copy of the message previously.

I tried the "offline" feature but this was still annoying - why not show me what's already been downloaded by a previous session, then check for new messages, rather than hiding the lot from me until the server had been contacted?

Maybe I missed something, but after going through all the configuration options (and even in the advanced config bit at one point) to get it performing like Outlook and OE as possible, this downloading pain was the one area I gave up.

Back on OE now - works just as I expect it to.

[yeti]

I've gone back to OE after getting frustrated with Thunderbird. Main reason for moving back to OE was the way Thunderbird would always try and poll the IMAP server for every folder I clicked on, even though it had downloaded a copy of the message previously.

I tried the "offline" feature but this was still annoying - why not show me what's already been downloaded by a previous session, then check for new messages, rather than hiding the lot from me until the server had been contacted?

Maybe I missed something, but after going through all the configuration options (and even in the advanced config bit at one point) to get it performing like Outlook and OE as possible, this downloading pain was the one area I gave up.

Back on OE now - works just as I expect it to.

I'm using Thunderbird with IMAP accounts, when I click on a folder it displays the list of headers it has downloaded previously and get new ones in the background. Did not change any setting. The last time I tried Outlook, 5 years ago, it was pretty bad at dealing with IMAP accounts.

[Crushdepth]

I was an Outlook user, switched to Thunderbird for a couple of years, got sick of it and switched back. I can't say I'm happy with either. What I want is a simple email, calendar and contacts client that *works* (please nobody mention Lightning) and without any extraneous crap (please nobody mention Outlook!). I prefer the default email client in Ubuntu, but of course, that's Linux and I've got Windows at work. One other whynge about Outlook 2007: It is dog slow. I still think its better than T-bird though.

When they finally get around to putting a calendar and contacts in Thunderbird I'll look at it again. But I really hope they don't use Lightning.

Edited May 26, 2008 by Crushdepth

[Gary A]

Since I changed to Gmail I have found no use for either system. Am I missing something?

[soisicknote]

Since I changed to Gmail I have found no use for either system. Am I missing something?

hello i use gmail now for when im out and then i check out my emails when im out. r u saying then if im at my home computer i should do all my work through gmail if so can i have seperate folders for each address on gmail

[srs]

Switched back to Outlook after using Thunderbird.

I am using Outlook 2003 and I am very happy with it.

I also tried Outlook 2007 and it is really slow.

2003 is just perfect (1.5 GHz, 2GB RAM).

And if you have a PDA with Windows Mobile it is certainly a good idea to synchronize with another Microsoft product.

[Veazer]

which 1 is more idiot proof and reliable, outlook express or mozilla thunderbird ??

Another option is Spicebird, but it's still rather early in development.

[Gary A]

Since I changed to Gmail I have found no use for either system. Am I missing something?

hello i use gmail now for when im out and then i check out my emails when im out. r u saying then if im at my home computer i should do all my work through gmail if so can i have seperate folders for each address on gmail

Gmail saves everything so it works at an Internet cafe or on your home computer. The Gmail search engine is great and I find it easy to find email from any sender or any subject. I don't see any need for separate folders.

I'm not a businessman so my needs are not the same as someone who has hundreds of customers to keep track of.

[Crushdepth]

I use Gmail in combination with Outlook (POP3 download). I find webmail slow and annoying for regular use, but the archive feature is extremely useful.

[Digitalbanana]

Am I missing something?

The ability to read your emails and attachments offline is the first thing that comes to mind.

[Lite Beer]

I use The Bat for years and it's an excellent Client. Unfortunate it's Payware and not free.

Using multiple accounts, Spam Filtering. Virus check and much more, I even not start thinking about an other prog!

Cheers.

I just downloaded The Bat 30 day free trial and it looks great.

When you register is it a one off fee? Or is it an annual payment?

Thanks.

Edited May 28, 2008 by Lite Beer

[beekaykay]

Thunderbird hands down....

[slackula]

I am also impressed with Gmail, the only thing that worries me is that it is still listed as Beta software and Google could simply cancel or modify it at any time and there is no redress.

The mail.app client in OS X is very good, and has excellent integration with the calendar etc, but given the OP question I'd prefer to live with the few weaknesses of Thunderbird over the pathetic failings and bloat of Outlook.

[JSixpack]

I use The Bat for years and it's an excellent Client. Unfortunate it's Payware and not free.

Using multiple accounts, Spam Filtering. Virus check and much more, I even not start thinking about an other prog!

Cheers.

I just downloaded The Bat 30 day free trial and it looks great.

When you register is it a one off fee? Or is it an annual payment?

Thanks.

I think it's a one off.

The Bat! is the world's greatest email client and well worth the cost.

[octagon]

http://www.spicebird.com/

[Lite Beer]

I use The Bat for years and it's an excellent Client. Unfortunate it's Payware and not free.

Using multiple accounts, Spam Filtering. Virus check and much more, I even not start thinking about an other prog!

Cheers.

I just downloaded The Bat 30 day free trial and it looks great.

When you register is it a one off fee? Or is it an annual payment?

Thanks.

I think it's a one off.

The Bat! is the world's greatest email client and well worth the cost.

Yep. Love the Tickertape Message Notifier.

Am waiting for my registration number to come back.

[HenryLongfellow]

Am I missing something?

The ability to read your emails and attachments offline is the first thing that comes to mind.

Not so. I also have the mobile Gmail client on my phone. So the offline content is even more accessible and portable.