CNET Editors' review
Despite perceptions to the contrary, the desktop-based e-mail client is not dead. Mozilla Thunderbird 3.0 is a serious reaction to the prevalence of Web mail, so whether you're looking for a strong desktop client, an Outlook replacement, or a powerful tool for managing archives and Web mail offline, Thunderbird can scale to your needs.
Outlook users will notice the speed and responsiveness of the program, which loads fast, even when weighed down by multiple folders and RSS feeds, and the basic feature set remains intact: good junk mail filters, HTML support, multiple identities, and robust Web mail, POP, IMAP, and Microsoft Exchange server support. Security features include S/MIME, digital signing, message encryption, and a built-in phishing detector. Add-ons, based on the same code as Firefox's add-on network, can enhance your security even further.
Joining such useful features as the back and forward e-mail browsing buttons and customizable tags in version 3.0 are a set of must-have features. The powerful search tool integrates results with Spotlight desktop searches, along with Growl notifications and integration with the OS X address book. Tabs reinforce the connections between Web browsing and e-mail reading. In fact, the new search tool is so powerful that if you have a massive number of e-mails, you may want to set it to index them overnight lest it drain system resources from other programs. Gmail support especially has been revamped, so you now get an All Mail folder in Thunderbird, among other improvements. Mozilla's new Personas skins work in Thunderbird, while the Lightning add-on supplies the missing Microsoft Exchange-compatible calendar feature.
Mac users looking for a solid alternative to Entourage will find Thunderbird to be a flexible and feature-rich choice.
Watch the CNET video review of Mozilla Thunderbird Beta:Publisher's Description
From Mozilla:
Thunderbird makes e-mailing safer, faster, and easier with such features as intelligent spam filters, a built-in RSS reader, and quick search. Thunderbird was designed to prevent viruses and to stop junk mail. Thunderbird 3 includes tabbed e-mail, new search tools and indexing, "smart" folders, support for Firefox's Personas, a simplified setup wizard, and robust junk protections that include phishing and spam filters. Thunderbird 3 is based on the Gecko 1.9.2 platform including some major re-architecting to provide improved performance, stability, web compatibility, and code simplification and sustainability.
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All versions:
3.1 starsout of 72 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 1 votes
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"How about an update?"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird Beta 10.0b2
Pros
Continuously improving
Cons
Almost every new version breaks add-ons / extensions
Summary
I really think Seth Rosenblatt, anyone, should write a new review of Thunderbird. Here we are downloading betas in Version 10, and the most recent CNET review is for Version 3?
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