Recommend me an email program

[Paul Drawmer]

For my laptop, running XP.

Prefer a free one if poss :-)

This isn't my main machine, so I'd like to be able to set the pop3 reader to 'leave messages on server' so that if I'm out and about and read messages, I still leave a complete list on my main machine.

I know Outlook does this, but I haven't bought Office for this machine.

[LordGrover]

this the calls for Thunderbird!

[SGirl]

Yep, second that. I use Thunderbird all the time.

[igiveup]

http://en-gb.www.mozillamessaging.com/en-GB/thunde...

[lestag]

Windows Live mail is another option....but...... after doing 3 install/configs for clients and transferring data over from outlook express (already in XP btw) I am tempted to look at thunderbird again... shock horror!!

[MadeInEngland]

Outlook Express - comes with XP

[Paul Drawmer]

I Thought Windows live mail was a web mail reader thingy not suitable for POP3?

I must admit I started it up by mistake and quickly closed it down and got rid of it, 'cos it had an alien interface and was full of links to MSN rubbish.

And does it and Outlook express have the ability to leave the messages on the server?

[Noger]

Thunderbird continues to underwhelm me.

A few other options...

1) Forward your mail to Gmail ?
2) Use Zimbra Desktop http://www.zimbra.com/products/desktop.html

[Frankeh]

Gotta be thunderbird.

[Engineer1]

Thunderbird has had a recent update so may be a little more pleasing.

[LordGrover]

Interesting. Not come across zimbra before... looks good.
For my personal account I don't really need a desktop client as I use gmail and am happy with web interface - I have outlook for work. Both work very well on iPhone too.
The only thing missing is online storage which zimbra offers. I think I'll give it a test drive. Nice one.

[Paul Drawmer]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone - I'll be looking at Thunderbird and Zimbra then.

I've had the same email address since Compuserve was gobbled up by AOL and 'Compuserve 73064,1461' was no longer a valid email address!

[baughany]

Gmail?

[lestag]

Paul Drawmer said:

I Thought Windows live mail was a web mail reader thingy not suitable for POP3?

I must admit I started it up by mistake and quickly closed it down and got rid of it, 'cos it had an alien interface and was full of links to MSN rubbish.

And does it and Outlook express have the ability to leave the messages on the server?

You can download applications such as windows live mail from http://download.live.com/
You can also use the web browser interface which I think you are talking about

Dunno about OE have not got one handy, but with WLM you can leave messages on the server

[Paul Drawmer]

lestag said:

Paul Drawmer said:

I Thought Windows live mail was a web mail reader thingy not suitable for POP3?

I must admit I started it up by mistake and quickly closed it down and got rid of it, 'cos it had an alien interface and was full of links to MSN rubbish.

And does it and Outlook express have the ability to leave the messages on the server?

You can download applications such as windows live mail from http://download.live.com/
You can also use the web browser interface which I think you are talking about

Dunno about OE have not got one handy, but with WLM you can leave messages on the server

I do NOT want a webmail interface.
I do need to access the same POP3 mail that my home machine does.

Q. for Thunderbird users: I can't find where to put passwords in?
I need separate set ups for incoming and outgoing as I use a different SMTP server for out going (Gradwell).

[sgrimshaw]

From memory it asks if you want to save the password.

However, you can check.

Tools, Options, Privacy = there is a tab for passwords.

Click edit passwords

[RizzoTheRat]

Paul Drawmer said:

I do need to access the same POP3 mail that my home machine does.

In that case you want to use IMAP, assuming your e-mail provider supports it. Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, and most others can connect via IMAP rather than as a POP3 account, which means they'll synchronise with the online mail folder rather than download everything that's there.

[LordGrover]

You can have one or many pop3 and/or IMAP accounts setup in tbird but one only SMTP. This can be different to your only or primary incoming account.
You can choose to leave the mail on the POP3 server so another client can download the email allowing you offline access to your incoming email on one or many computers. Depending on which SMTP server you use you will usually only have access to mail sent from a specific client unless you use something like gmail via IMAP.

Edited by LordGrover on Saturday 27th March 10:09

[CommanderJameson]

MadeInEngland said:

Outlook Express - comes with XP

Hopeless tat from a decade ago.

Definitely best avoided.

[Paul Drawmer]

sgrimshaw said:

From memory it asks if you want to save the password.

However, you can check.

Tools, Options, Privacy = there is a tab for passwords.

Click edit passwords

I've found that - but it's empty, how do I make new entries?