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Comments on: Put Thunderbird to work

Version 2.0 of the free e-mail client Mozilla Thunderbird raises the bar with back-forward browsing, advanced folder views, and tagging...but can you use it at work?

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Happy T-Bird user since 2004
by pksimmang May 1, 2007 4:06 PM PDT
I've been using Thunderbird exclusively since 2004, and I've been very happy with it. Currently I'm using 1.5.0.10. There are some things that take getting used to, but no real deal-breakers. I use a lot more extensions than I ever thought I would, but if you browse through them it's amazing what you never know you needed. (Examples: Display Mail User Agent will show an icon to indicate what mail client the sender is using. Notary will let you store text notes with messages--useful for noting follow-up phone discussion, or just what is in that e-fax you received.)

I also have set up Thunderbird to check a few RSS feeds. Why have to go back to Snopes or The Raw Feed on a regular basis when you can have the good stuff show up when you check your mail?

Labels are also handy, but it's been a while since I've used Outlook or OE so I don't know if they have them too. Basically, you can color-code your messages individually, and assign colors to categories, such as work, personal, waiting to hear back, or done. Then you can pull up a view that only has messages coded as waiting to hear back, for example.

I use Mr.Postman (mrpostman.sourceforge.net) to check my hotmail and yahoo accounts. It's not designed for the complete novice, but the forums are helpful. T-Bird's filters can run on these accounts as the messages are downloaded, and you can put messages from each account in a separate set of folders or dump everything into one.

Originally I used an older calendar extension (not Sunbird), but have moved to Lightning for one critical reason: BirdieSync. (www.birdiesync.com) BirdieSync works as a bridge between Thunderbird/Lightning/Sunbird and MS ActiveSync to synchronize your calendar, contacts, etc. to your PocketPC. As an added bonus, it can include Outlook in the mix--assuming you'd have a need to. There are other sync agents out there, but I found BirdieSync to be the easiest to set up.

The only major complaint I have is that it takes several seconds to pull up the calendar, or to switch views or months. However, it does include an "agenda" window that shows today/tomorrow/soon items as well as the "to-do" list so that minimizes the need to pull up the calendar in the first place.

Overall, thumbs up. I'm looking forward to the improvements in 2.0.
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Happy T-Bird user since 2004
by pksimmang May 1, 2007 4:06 PM PDT
I've been using Thunderbird exclusively since 2004, and I've been very happy with it. Currently I'm using 1.5.0.10. There are some things that take getting used to, but no real deal-breakers. I use a lot more extensions than I ever thought I would, but if you browse through them it's amazing what you never know you needed. (Examples: Display Mail User Agent will show an icon to indicate what mail client the sender is using. Notary will let you store text notes with messages--useful for noting follow-up phone discussion, or just what is in that e-fax you received.)

I also have set up Thunderbird to check a few RSS feeds. Why have to go back to Snopes or The Raw Feed on a regular basis when you can have the good stuff show up when you check your mail?

Labels are also handy, but it's been a while since I've used Outlook or OE so I don't know if they have them too. Basically, you can color-code your messages individually, and assign colors to categories, such as work, personal, waiting to hear back, or done. Then you can pull up a view that only has messages coded as waiting to hear back, for example.

I use Mr.Postman (mrpostman.sourceforge.net) to check my hotmail and yahoo accounts. It's not designed for the complete novice, but the forums are helpful. T-Bird's filters can run on these accounts as the messages are downloaded, and you can put messages from each account in a separate set of folders or dump everything into one.

Originally I used an older calendar extension (not Sunbird), but have moved to Lightning for one critical reason: BirdieSync. (www.birdiesync.com) BirdieSync works as a bridge between Thunderbird/Lightning/Sunbird and MS ActiveSync to synchronize your calendar, contacts, etc. to your PocketPC. As an added bonus, it can include Outlook in the mix--assuming you'd have a need to. There are other sync agents out there, but I found BirdieSync to be the easiest to set up.

The only major complaint I have is that it takes several seconds to pull up the calendar, or to switch views or months. However, it does include an "agenda" window that shows today/tomorrow/soon items as well as the "to-do" list so that minimizes the need to pull up the calendar in the first place.

Overall, thumbs up. I'm looking forward to the improvements in 2.0.
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yes, but will it work with Palm/Treo?
by ace58 May 1, 2007 7:29 PM PDT
probably the only reason i don't switch to TB is because i use my outlook 2003 to synchronize my treo 650 w/ my PC. if i migrate to TB, that means i'll have to sync my palm data w/ Palm Desktop, & maintain two PIMs.

that is, unless there is already a solution for this TB/Palm synchronization i'm not aware of?
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yes, but will it work with Palm/Treo?
by ace58 May 1, 2007 7:29 PM PDT
probably the only reason i don't switch to TB is because i use my outlook 2003 to synchronize my treo 650 w/ my PC. if i migrate to TB, that means i'll have to sync my palm data w/ Palm Desktop, & maintain two PIMs.

that is, unless there is already a solution for this TB/Palm synchronization i'm not aware of?
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Thunderbird / Lightning
by Freddie3 May 22, 2007 10:08 AM PDT
I have tried switching from Outlook following Peter Butler's very interesting article on 1 May. Lightning synced with Google works like a charm when you are online although I haven't worked out how to use Lightning offline except be adding a duplicate unsynced calendar.
The big problem is that I cannot find a way of syncing this combination with my Palm PDA and until this is solved I am stuck with Outlook.
Reply to this comment
Thunderbird / Lightning
by Freddie3 May 22, 2007 10:08 AM PDT
I have tried switching from Outlook following Peter Butler's very interesting article on 1 May. Lightning synced with Google works like a charm when you are online although I haven't worked out how to use Lightning offline except be adding a duplicate unsynced calendar.
The big problem is that I cannot find a way of syncing this combination with my Palm PDA and until this is solved I am stuck with Outlook.
Reply to this comment
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