CNET Editors' review
Formerly known as the e-mail component of the Mozilla Web browser, Thunderbird now exists as a stand-alone, full-featured client. The recently stripped-down code feels leaner and more focused than the original Mozilla component. In terms of features, the program is comparable to or exceeds other products in this space, boasting good junk-mail filters, compatibility with RSS feeds, HTML support, and multiple identities. Thunderbird handles both POP and IMAP accounts admirably, but we would like to see greater support for Microsoft's Exchange server. The program also boasts stellar security features such as S/MMIE, digital signing, and message encryption. Visually ahead of the game, Thunderbird's interface is a joy to use, and the application now lacks the sluggishness that plagued pervious versions. We also like the layout options, which allow us to view our mail in various columned arrangements. Other little perks include message searching, saved-search folders, import tools, smart-address completion, labels, and return receipts. Though the lack of full Exchange support will keep this e-mail app on the sidelines in the corporate world, home users looking for an alternative to Outlook Express will absolutely find Thunderbird a high-flying choice. New search and tabs take flight in Thunderbird 3:Publisher's Description
From Mozilla:
Thunderbird makes e-mailing safer, faster, and easier than ever before with the industry's best implementations of features, such as intelligent spam filters, a built-in RSS reader, and quick search.
Thunderbird gives you a faster, safer, and more productive e-mail experience. We designed Thunderbird to prevent viruses and to stop junk mail so you can get back to reading your mail. Read on to find out more about the reasons why you should use Thunderbird as your mail client and RSS reader.
Thunderbird provides the most effective tools for detecting junk mail. Our tools analyze your e-mail and identify those that are most likely to be junk. You can automatically have your junk mail deleted or you can put it in a folder you specify, just in case you like reading junk mail.
View your e-mail the way you want it. Access your e-mail with Thunderbird's new three-column view. Customize your toolbar, change its look with themes, and use Mail Views to quickly sort through your e-mail.
Thunderbird provides enterprise and government grade security features such as S/MIME, digital signing, message encryption, support for certificates, and security devices.
Thunderbird gives you IMAP/POP support, a built-in RSS reader, support for HTML mail, powerful quick search, saved-search folders, advanced-message filtering, message grouping, labels, return receipts, smart-address-book LDAP address completion, import tools, and the ability to manage multiple e-mail and newsgroup accounts.
Thunderbird lets you add additional features as you need them through extensions. Extensions are a powerful tool to help you build a mail client that meets your specific needs.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 1,192 votes
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Current version:
4.5 starsout of 273 votes
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My rating:
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"Not bad"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
Seemed like every other email client
Cons
This program wanted my password every 2 seconds even though I clicked for it to remember it.
I tried to send one email which never did get sent.
I will stick with Incredimail until I find something better.
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"Full Featured, Fast & Free!"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
Well designed, highly configurable UI and lightning fast compared to the full version of Outlook. Great security features. Many useful application extensions and cosmetic themes are available at no cost. Installation is fast and easy. User Forum and Knowledge Base are instantly accessable from Help Menu. Highly recommended for anyone who needs the depth of Outlook but prefers a more streamlined, efficient & safer email interface. Definitely FIVE stars!
Cons
While the installation is a breeze there are dozens of configuration options that might be confusing to users who not email savvy. If you're totally satisfied and comfortable with something like Outlook Express, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail etc., Thunderbird might be a bit more than you need. Users with multiple email addresses should be prepared to spend an hour or two configuring and tweaking the various options and account settings.
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"By far the best email client around."
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
I love how the client "learns" which mail is spam and which mail is good...auto moves the evil/spam stuff to the junk folder. Saves a lot of deleting required with MS Outlook Express.
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"Fantastic Program"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
Easy to use and very safe and secure
Cons
Somtimes it filters out stuff i need as spam, but its only becuase it thinks its spam. :-p
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"Wonderful"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
Fast and secure. Intelligent trash can and email filtering. Easy to use and organize. Easy to understand and add to the address book. Free and easy to use. An Excellent program with a few advanced features that i will probably always use. get it now, you'll be glad you did!
Cons
Outlook express has that little AIM/MSN buddy status thing status thing, this doesnt but i never found that useful anyway.
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"Simply a Warning"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
It appears to be similiar to Outlook and well, yeah, it is FREE.
Cons
One thing I discovered that it does NOT support is Hotmail. I clearly remember reading that it supports webmail, yet after downloading and installing I discovered that their definition of webmail and mine must be different. I soon discovered that they do NOT support Hotmail or Netscape mail. Altho I liked the appearance and look of this program, I NEED to be able to access my webmail accounts with the same program as my pop mail accounts. So, I uninstalled. Now, here is when I ran into an issue. Apparently, it resulted from my electing to click yes upon installing if I wanted to set this program as the default email program. Well, after deletion I no longer had access to any email program. I could no longer access Outlook. I ended up having to do a system restore to get my Outlook back.
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"Almost perfect."
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
Does have almost everything that an email client needs. Fast, safe, nice interface, handles all protocols (including nntp!), skinnable, very intuitive configuration. And - one of the most important - keeps messages in standard UNIX format, which makes possible to export the messages to any other email system with (almost) no work.
Cons
As I can see, there are two cons:
- Poor import from other clients. Well, it IS possible to import from almost every other email client, but it requires quite good IT knowledge to do it, and it takes too much time (importing gigabytes of email from TheBat! took me about six hours...)
- Poor (but still better than M$O/M$OE) handling very large amounts of email
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"Don't need to worry"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
You never need to really worry about anything using this. When ihad outlook i always had to check for security updates and need to install them using the office cd but now i don't need to worry because installing updates with this is easy and simple.
Cons
I didn't download it earlier
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"Great junk mail processing, but too buggy"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Pros
mail filtering and many other nice features. It is junk mail processing that has been keeping me using it ever since Thunderbird 0.9 came out.
Cons
1.too buggy -- often dies or loses mail. Mail editor has problems in moving the cursor. Today, it even refuses to get mail from one of my accounts, which I can get in from browser and do see mail there. Multi-stream problems also, especially in compacting folders.
2. Does not handle double-character smoothly. I can elaborate if anyone wants to listen.
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"reinstallation nightmare!"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0
Cons
Don't even think of reinstalling this program! It simply will not accept the old mailboxes, and it has no feature for importing its own mailboxes like most email clients do. Everything lost!
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