Which email client to use?
 

I've recently bought a new, high spec (and for me, expensive) Sony laptop with Windows 7 Pro installed. I had heard that Outlook Express was no longer favoured by Microsoft and that I would have to use something else if I wanted to send/receive emails on the new machine. (Current machines all run XP Pro with OE so Windows 7 is something of a shock).

In the few days that I had the machine before it went back to Sony to be replaced ('nother story) I tried to get to grips with Windows Live Mail which was already installed but I didn't like it at all. A very complicated, un-user-friendly interface, I thought.

Can fellow Ppruners recommend from their own experience an email client that is simple to use and if possible, similar in presentation to OE?

Thunderbird, it's free and good

I agree Thunderbird, it's free and good. Tried very hard to get used to Windows Live Mail but think it is total rubbish.

Opera, it's good, free and integrated into a very underestimated, good, fast, multiplatform browser.

Opera browser | Faster & safer internet | Free download

:ok:

Mac

Another vote for Thunderbird - it has been extremely reliable.

Thunderbird again. I've been using it for years with no problems. It's cross platform (which suits me as a Linux/Windows user) and totally reliable. Can't comment on similarity to OE as I stopped using that years ago.

I have to say that of all the current non-business mail clients I prefer Windows Live Mail. I agree it comes as an initial shock, but once you get used to it, it grows on you.

Thunderbird I dislike for several reasons
First the way it tries to force the "smart folders" view by default
More importantly if you are using several mailboxes, trying to set out multiple outgoing SMTP accounts is simply a non-intuitive nightmare. If you've only got one account, then the problem doesn't arise
I don't like the layout either...

Personally I think the new open source version of Eudora may be better. Its Thunderbird with a front end designed to look like the old Eudora program - its worth considering

Fence sitting time...

If you already use Opera (or care to try it) the built-in email client is really very good. Simple interface, connects very nicely to POP3 or IMAP emails, and is part of an excellent browser.

If you don't want to use Opera for any reason, then Thunderbird would be best. Cross platform, stable, easy to use and you can add all sorts of little tools to make life easier. We use it at work because we can have the interface and spell check in any language, something that can only be done with Outlook if you have the necessary (paid) language packs.

TTFN

I've been using Thunderbird for a couple of years on my primary email account, have had no problems with it (fwiw the mailserver is MS Exchange, which has for some time been supporting IMAP access perfectly satisfactorily). I've not yet managed to get it to play well with some accounts on a different ISP (functional, but s l o w), but that's not Tbird's fault.

Before I retired, my PC at work had MS Outlook (the proper one, not OE) 2007, which was acceptable (well, had to be, there was no other choice), but I haven't used the 2010 version; it's a possible option if your ISP runs MS Exchange and you're willing to spring for the price of an MS Office edition that includes it. I think a trial version is downloadable.

Milo Minderbinder:
Have to agree on that one.

Used Eudora years ago in the dial-up era. Thanks for the tip.

WGW

Download Eudora from here
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Eudora_OSE

Eudora 6. Still going like a champ! :D :ok:

One good e-mail client I forgot before is called "The Bat!"
Its not free though - €35 for the home version, €45 for the Pro. Allows multiple inboxes, multiple accounts / severs and blocks scripts by default. Much more secure than most other clients, and easy to set up
If you don't mind paying, its worth a look (free trial available)
RITLabs. The Bat! Email Client

Eudora ? Now there's a blast from the past ! I had no idea they were still in existence .... I too used to use them in the old dial-up days !

I'm quite fond of Apple Mail (having converted from the memory-hog that is Thunderbird).... the search function on Apple mail is awsome !

Following advice on here in an earlier thread, in anticipation of moving from XP to 7/64, I migrated from OE to O.
it was painless, and whilst it is a sledgehammer to crack a nut, I have learnt how to set it up so it more or less looks like/behaves like OE.
I ignore all the other stuff that I do not want.

Plenty of food for thought there guys; thanks very much.