Scan & Fix 100 registry errors freeCNET 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: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.
What's new in this version: Prevents a crash after update, that is affecting some users.
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All versions:
3.1 starsout of 72 votes
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Current version:
2.0 starsout of 1 votes
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"MAC version still not ready for prime time"
Version: Mozilla Thunderbird 3.1.9
Pros
Tabbed windows built-in
Improved HTML editor
Incorporated "mismatched" domain checking
Built-in advanced configuration editorCons
Tabbed windows built-in
Does not bounce dock icon as in v2
Folders do not display unread messagesSummary
Tabbed windows - love them or hate them, you've got 'em. There is a hidden advanced configuration setting to at least hide tabbed windows. I never saw the point on a mail client and it should be an option. It takes up a lot of room on the screen.
My biggest gripe - They broke every way there is to know about new mail. Come 'on people, it's a mail client. The first and most important thing it's got to do is send and receive email. Version 2 used to bounce the dock icon forever until you gave the application focus. Version 3 bounces it once, maybe twice. If you blink, you'll miss it. If that's not bad enough, they've introduced bugs to the folder display which kill the new mail indicators. If you are like me and have two dozen folders to sort incoming email you could loose new mail forever - NOT what I desire in an email client program. Version 2 might have its quirks but I'd rather use a quirky program which tells me when I have new mail.
Skip the fluff. Work on new email notification bugs first.
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