I’ve downloaded and begun using Mozilla Thunderbird today. Continue reading to find out what I think of it . . .
It’s been years since I used Microsoft Outlook Express, if I ever did use it. I have often described this software product as a highly efficient virus delivery system which can also send and receive emails.
Over the years I’ve tried the whole lot of alternatives — Pegasus, PocoMail, Eudora, Netscape/Mozilla Mail, Opera Mail, etc., etc. On my Linux desktop I have consistently used Ximian Evolution.
I have been using Eudora 5.2 on my Windows XP laptop and decided to give Thunderbird a chance. I have to say that I am very pleased. Here’s what I like about it, compared to Eudora:
1. It’s open source, free of charge, built by a community and not a corporation.
2. There are no ads. (I could pay Eudora not to show ads, but Thunderbird comes ads-free in its free version.)
3. It seems to load messages faster in the preview window.
4. It imported both my Eudora address book and all my messages without a problem.
5. It appears to have powerful anti-spam measures built in, but I don’t use them. I have my spam destroyed at server level — actually, twice. Spam is crushed by my basic email provider, and it is crushed again by emailfiltering.co.uk, which I have purchased.
6. It seems to have encryption built in, which could be convenient. I use PGP, but no one else seems to. Nevertheless, I do think that eventually everyone will use something like this, so good to see this built into the email client.
Other than that, not much to say — it seems to do everything that Eudora does.
So why switch?
Well, it is open source and that’s a good thing. And keep in mind that this only version 0.2 — Eudora is already on version 6.0. If this is what Thunderbird looks like now, what will it be able to do when they get around to version 1.0?
If any of you are already using Thunderbird and can tell me how I use the templates to reply to messages (not filtered, but manually), I’d be delighted. The Help part of this project could use a little, well, help. 🙂
can you help m
ive been reading your comment on the vaio TR!MP.
On th what laptop forum. About if it plays region 1 dvd movies. I am thinking of buying this laptop. Does it play region 1 dvd movies. And do you still like the laptop. I would be very gratful to you for a reply.
I’ve been trying TB 0.3 for a while, and I find it has a lot of potential. A few bugs will keep me from using it until the next release, such as the blatant inability for it to save port settings.
For ericlee. Thunderbird Mail templates.
*Creating and Using Templates*
Templates are useful for setting the default format for messages that you send regularly, such as weekly status reports. You can save a message as a template from any window in which it is displayed, including from within a Mail compose window.
To save a message to use as a template:
1. In the Mail window, click Compose to create a new message and then set the default font, text size, text color, background color, and any other default formatting you want.
2. Alternatively, open an existing message that already has the formatting you want.
3. While displaying the message, open the File menu, choose Save As, then choose Template. The message is stored as a template in the Templates folder for the current mail account.
To compose a message using a template:
1. In the Mail window, select the Templates folder for the account where you created the message template.
2. Double-click the message template to open it.
3. Edit the message, then save it (to put it in the Drafts folder) or send it.
Note: Sending the message does not remove the template from the Templates folder. The template is preserved for future use.
To delete one or more unwanted message templates, begin from the Mail window:
1. Click the Templates folder for the account where you created the message templates.
2. Select the message templates that you want to delete.
3. Click Delete in the Mail toolbar.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
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