Mozilla Thunderbird lives on

[brandonkick]

I've always been a bit adverse to desktop mail client programs... eh. Recently the company I do my main software development for moved to O365 high security.... if you want to access email via browser or your phone, you need to install the microsoft intune app and allow the company a great deal more power than I'd like... include the ability to wipe the entire device in the case of the phone. The alternative? Use the outlook 365 desktop app, and authenticate through a browser when accessing certain kinds of "protected" materials (like if someone emails me a word doc). Much better trade off IMO, but the point is that after almost two months... I'm start to not mind the Outlook desktop app so much. I almost kinda dig it, after switching to the dark grey theme that is!

I think I tried thunderbird back in the day, when I was a young, angry, pennyless teen refusing to give M$ money I didn't have. I don't remember anything about it, so I guess that means I found it neither good nor bad.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I used to recommend Thunderbird. But now for home users I just recommend they use a Gmail account. Or if they have existing email to use whatever online portal provided. Thunderbird is good but Thunderbird can be a pain when your connection breaks.

 

[britechguy]

But now for home users I just recommend they use a Gmail account. Or if they have existing email to use whatever online portal provided.

And I do the same. Most webmail interfaces these days support the addition of "outside accounts," and that includes Gmail's webmail. They're webmail clients, and since you can log in to them from any machine you happen to be plopped in front of that has an internet connection they're mighty darned handy when compared to a conventional e-mail client.

 

[Diggs]

Or if they have existing email to use whatever online portal provided.

Some of these portals are slow and pretty bad. I've tried to help a few clients print from Yahoo's email portal and it's a mess. Charter/Spectrum used to be slow as molasses in January but has improved slightly recently.

 

[britechguy]

The less said about Yahoo, period, the better.

I have a single remaining Yahoo account that dates from approximately 20 years ago that I never use anymore. Virtually everything about Yahoo has been going down the tubes for some time now. I try to get my clients off Yahoo unless they have an undying wish to stay on it. Even then, I propose forwarding all mail to a newly established alternate non-ISP webmail provider of their choosing then adding a "Vacation Response" (and I think Yahoo supports that, but I am no longer certain) that will send a message to anyone in their contacts if they mail to that address notifying them of a change of e-mail address.

 

[fincoder]

They're webmail clients, and since you can log in to them from any machine you happen to be plopped in front of that has an internet connection they're mighty darned handy when compared to a conventional e-mail client.

Using an email client on your main computer is far more efficient and pleasing in my opinion, and doesn't preclude anyone from using webmail if away from that computer. If configured as IMAP or Exchange then all saved email (and sometimes even contacts/calendar) are available from webmail.

I often log into my mail host's webmail when away from my main computers where I use Outlook because it's more efficient.

 

[britechguy]

Using an email client on your main computer is far more efficient and pleasing in my opinion, and doesn't preclude anyone from using webmail if away from that computer. If configured as IMAP or Exchange then all saved email (and sometimes even contacts/calendar) are available from webmail.

I often log into my mail host's webmail when away from my main computers where I use Outlook because it's more efficient.

It's not that it's not possible, but there are very few "average end users" who do both. So when it comes to my residential customers, if they ask my advice, it's webmail. Business users, which aren't really a part of my client base, generally have no choice in the matter.

 

[Porthos]

It's not that it's not possible, but there are very few "average end users" who do both. So when it comes to my residential customers, if they ask my advice, it's webmail. Business users, which aren't really a part of my client base, generally have no choice in the matter.

Same here.

The only exception in my area is Spectrum webmail. It is SLOW and cumbersome essentially it sucks. Then it is emclient for them.

 

[britechguy]

I suggest that my clients never, ever elect to use ISP provided e-mail (and, by extension webmail), since you will generally lose your address if you switch your ISP. And I know of very few people (myself included) who have never changed their ISPs even when living in the same location.

 

[Porthos]

I suggest that my clients never, ever elect to use ISP provided e-mail (and, by extension webmail), since you will generally lose your address if you switch your ISP.

Also the same.
The problem is, Most of the time by the time we pick them up as clients they have used the ISP address for years.
Spectrum here is one of those that you lose access the moment you switch.

 

[Diggs]

Also the same.
The problem is, Most of the time by the time we pick them up as clients they have used the ISP address for years.
Spectrum here is one of those that you lose access the moment you switch.

That's my problem. I started with Spectrum service 25 years ago. There weren't really any choices back then but to go with Charter's email. AOL? Hotmail? Heh....... I use domained Gmail for work but all my personal life has been built on Charter email addresses.

BTW - Thunderbird is my email of choice and it tracks 7 different email accounts of mine. I find it handles more info compactly and organizes the way I like to see it. I can't fit enough info on the page with Outlook and maybe dislike it from my corporate days.

 

[britechguy]

Well, I know only too well how difficult it is to switch away from a longstanding email address, but it can be done, and in the case of providers who drop you like a hot potato if you switch ISPs, should be done.

I know that most webmail interfaces give you a "vacation response" option, as do most clients, and this can be used very effectively to alert those who e-mail you (and are actual humans) about a change of address.

Initially I set up forwarding to the new address along with the vacation response then, after a sufficient period of time has elapsed, take off forwarding and change the "vacation response" message to state, explicitly, that I can no longer be reached at that address and all future e-mail must be directed to my address of choice.

With regard to e-mail client versus webmail: Any individual should choose whichever they prefer and use IMAP (or Exchange, when applicable) access only. POP3 should be relegated to the trash bin of history.

 

[NJW]

Thunderbird is my email of choice and it tracks 7 different email accounts of mine.

That's my strategy, too. How else can you search across all mail accounts in one go?

 

[britechguy]

That's my strategy, too. How else can you search across all mail accounts in one go?

By adding accounts to webmail in the same way as you do in an e-mail client. A great many webmail interfaces support that these days, as I mentioned earlier.

And don't get me started on the "Universal Inbox," which I personally think is one of the worst ideas ever. If you've got separate e-mail accounts you likely have those for a reason, and I've seen plenty of "the unfortunate accidents" when there's a mix-up regarding which address received a mail message when making a reply. It takes so little time to click on each inbox to review its specific messages.