Email programs
 

I'm in the process of switching over from AOL to cable. I also use a Yahoo address and it works fine for basic functionality. However, the address book and attachment features are a little unwieldy.

What email program should I use? There's a bunch of them.

Thanks,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

It's quite likely that whatever cable company you switch to will require a certain e-mail application. If I had my choice, I'd use the mail program that comes with Netscape - it's easy to use, feature-rich, and doesn't suffer a lot of the same problems (viruses, etc.) that Outlook does. However, there are some people that just love the Outlook interface.

Outlook Express is a part of Microsofts Internet Explorer. This is the most popular service in the world - also the target of all the computer virus' you have heard about. Notice that I wrote 'heard' - you have been shielded from this by using aol. To avoid virus' I recommend Netscape Navigator with a virus protection program running in the background - probably not necessary but you never know.

If you decide to go with Outlook, get good protection.
Outlook by the way is fantastic - especially if you use multiple mailboxes - it is one of the few services that can handle and check various mailboxes on various servers and it lets you know what mailbox each of the emails was sent to.

More technically sophisticated types please correct away - but here's my take:

Cable, DSL or even dialup just supply "Internet dial tone" - you can typically use whatever browswer and/or mail client you like (ahem, except for AOL). I've never even opened the install software for my Cox system.

Outlook and Outlook Express are two different programs. Kinda like a 911 and a 944, respectively. Used to be on an Exchange server - which works well with Outlook, then I got hooked on the interface. You either really like it, or don't.

Yes, there are viruses that exploit Outlook, but that's primarily because of the massive installed base, and partly because MS produces leaky software. Virus software (frequently updated) is essential no matter what mail client you use.

You might want to look at Eudora as a simple mail client - very versatile, allows mutiple "personalities" (allows you to check multiple email accounts and centralize mail - as does Outlook). I've not used any of the Netscape stuff, so I don't have any experience there.

Good Luck!

Don

Quite a few services, like my MSN DSL, require that you use Internet Explorer and Outlook (Express). There's some "secure" setting in Outlook that MSN requires in order to be able to download mail.

Also, Outlook and Outlook Express are different pieces of software. Outlook Express is basically a stripped down version of Outlook. However, Outlook Express has all of the features that I've ever needed!

Depends on your platform. If you are on windoze, I'd check out Eudora, although I don't know the current "state of the state". I used Eudora for the past 7 years on the Mac side, but finally bolted after they dragged their heels on an OS X version, then released buggy crapulence.

If you are on the Mac side (and now would be a fine time to switch if you aren't), Mail.app should do everything you need. I switched to that in anticipation of the new version that will come with 10.2. The only thing I don't like about it now is that you can't search multiple mailboxes/folders (I have about 50,000 messages archived locally), but that will be fixed with the next version.

Sherwood, follow Don's advice.. take a good look to Eudora, probably one of the best email clients out there (and is also free).. also the one included in Netscape (or Opera) is fairly good... remember is just email, you create a message and send it... not precisly rocket science.

You mention that you have yahoo mail now as your main email server... as far as I know Yahoo Mail cannot be easily accessed from outside of yahoo (does not provide standard interfaces ie. POP3, IMAP). You may want to consider using the mail server and mail address that you cable provider will give you or apply for a hotmail.com account (also free).

Hope this helps

I have been testing out Mozzilla and like it alot. Coming over from Outllook, its a great change.

Sherwood,

I have used Outlook, Eudora and others. I use outlook only because work makes me use it, but never for personal emails, as every virus in the world seems to target it. Used Netscape for a while but when AOL bought it things went to cr*p, locking up when it had over 10,000 emails in the system.

You might take a look at www.pegasus.com. Free, and an excellent program that works on most systems. Have used it for two years now and not one hiccup...

Joe

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I'll explore the programs you suggested.

Joe,
The Pegasus site changed; it's at http://www.pmail.com/ . BTW, it appears to be for Windoze and DOS OS only (I've got a Mac).

Sherwood

Sherwood,

Sorry about that! Was there just last week... oh well, things change. Did not know you had a Mac...

No matter what you use, getting off of AOL will be a big change for you and life will never be the same. Kinda like the difference between a VW bug and the 911!

Joe

Sherwood,

If you're running OS X, by all means consider the bundled Mail application. It does POP, IMAP, and is well behaved. The 10.2 upgrade will bring some more features, and excellent integration with a new system wide address book.

If you are still on OS 9, I'd say check out Eudora (www.eudora.com) or Mailsmith (www.barebones.com). Depends on your needs though...

www.incredimail.com


You can add your own style to Incredimail

I have a picture of my 930 attached to the bottom, it look really kool. You can change between accounts very easy.

Also I have mine automatically check for ew mail every 30 minutes and this kool little notifier appears on the desktop If I do..

Unknown if PC only or not...