Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
Yahoo's Zimbra Desktop is a strange beast. Chiefly intended for pre-existing users of Zimbra's business services, or those who access Zimbra's hosted server through the open-source community, the offline, multiplatform, open source Zimbra Desktop also has some intriguing uses for the rest of us. However, many features are acutely in beta. This makes its position as a standalone app precarious, as it does this review--pre-existing Zimbra fellows get a much richer feature set added to what is their chief e-mail in-box. For them, the emphasis on collaborating wiki documents, uploading files, and sharing entire subsets of the in-box--like address books and message folders--gives the application its value. Those outside the server's glow will find a half-enabled app still nibbled by bugs.
Most will want to try Zimbra Desktop for its capability to manage multiple e-mail accounts from its single in-box. It will sync contacts and calendars from Yahoo Mail and Gmail, though a syncing dilemma with Gmail currently restricts the buddy list to those you've added by hand. Likewise, Gmail's labels won't synchronize with Zimbra tags in this build. Hotmail is another Web mail service supported with caveats. It only works for those with premium Plus accounts, or those who have been grandfathered in from the Outlook Express days. Other IMAP and POP services are eligible for Zimbra's in-box panoply.
The e-mail accounts that do make it into Zimbra without a hitch are treated with an overarching search bar, the ability to tag messages, and a feature that clusters conversations with the same subject line. Unlike Gmail, Zimbra Desktop won't thread conversations into one e-mail entry, but it will list previous conversations with the same subject line beneath the latest message.
Also open to everyone are Zimbra Desktop's extremely simple wiki documents, which you can create, but can't easily share with others if you don't engage Zimbra's server. In previous tests, stability became an issue when running a spreadsheet and minimized applications. While the portrait isn't exactly rosy, the adventurous can still benefit from the multi in-box management tools, as Zimbra broadens its appeal and its promise to non-Zimbra Server users.
Publisher's Description
From Zimbra:
Zimbra Desktop is the next-generation email application that makes e-mail easy again. Get e-mail, contacts, and calendar all in one application. Easily set up Zimbra, Yahoo. Mail Plus, AOL and Gmail email accounts with the Account Wizard. Any POP or IMAP email account can be added to Zimbra Desktop, there's no limit to the size of your email storage, and Zimbra Desktop works online and offline.
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All versions:
3.0 starsout of 52 votes
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Current version:
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"Handle multiple GB size IMAP email accounts very well"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.2.1
Pros
Lots of pros really. Intuitive interface. Many useful Zimlets available for free. Easy to see if new emails have arrived also in collapsed folders and accounts.
Cons
Not possible to set up a default SMTP server. That is a big minus since I rely on ISP SMTP service and must change SMTP server for each of the 10 email accounts when I connect to another ISP.
Summary
I want one email client for work and one email client for private. Thunderbird is my #1 email client but Zimbra comes in as a good #2 before MS Outlook, eM, Pegasus, Opera, Postbox and Windows Live Mail. Postbox (based on Thunderbird) had problems with the SMTP connections and had to be restarted 3-4 times day.
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"Thunderbird is better, I'm sticking with it."
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.2.1
Pros
Good to keep all your mail in one place, considering I havemultiple email addresses and can't tell everyone, "Send me an email at: this email, this email, or this email." Nice to just have one.
Cons
Clunky, hard to use (for newer people)interface and doesn't work well with Gmail or hotmail, I definetly prefer Thunderbird better.
But of course, Yahoo things don't get that far. -
"Outlook is better"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.4
Pros
I use zimbra for school and I can easily access my different email accounts in one place.
Cons
The interface - ugly, not user-friendly, cluttered, confusing.
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"A real alternative to Outlook."
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.4
Pros
Handles multiple accounts well. Great to use.
Cons
A little buggy.
Summary
Good product - I prefer it to Outlook after a month of use. However, backups should be maintained in case of problems.
Perhaps VMware could consider more investment in this product and selling it for a reasonable price? -
"As a free e-mail client, half-baked"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.4
Pros
Seems to have many features
Cons
At least one significant feature that is supposed to work -- called "Incoming Message Filters" -- does not work. You would use this to sort incoming mail by subject, sender, etc. For some, it seems to work on incoming mail, but not for me. But filters cannot be applied retroactively to your inbox -- a very common requirement. The online help says that you can do this, and even provides instructions. Unfortunately, those instructions refer to at least one button that simply does not exist. There is a bugzilla entry on this, and it is marked as fixed. But several people have commented that it is not fixed.
Summary
The 'product' just does not seem to be finished, at least in its 'free' version. (I am attempting to use Zimbra Desktop 7.1.4 GA (build 11299), but will soon switch to another client.)
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"Must-have for home PC of Droid & iPhone users"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.4
Pros
FINALLY can synch your gmail contacts, email, and calendar in one desktop application, and your Hotmail too! This makes it possible for Droid and iPhone users to keep their phone and desktop contacts & calendar easily in synch.
Cons
Tricky to configure a Hotmail account. (But if you have a droid, you are already trying to get away from Hotmail).
Summary
This is the missing link for mobile phone uses who need to keep their contacts, email, and calendar in synch on the same account from both phone and home PC. much easier to configure & use than Outlook. Some hints for Hotmail acct configuration, which is tricky:
username = email address.
Incoming server: pop3.live.com, security SSL.
Sending mail: SMTP server SMTP.live.com, security (no SSL), Authentication: username & password required (re-enter username & password).
Set synch for no more frequently than every 15 minutes. YOU WILL GET AN ERROR IF YOU TRY TO SYNCH MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 15 MINUTES; This is a Hotmail 'feature'. Ignore it and it will work in a few minutes. -
"DELETED ALL OF MY INBOX"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.4
Pros
Great interface but if your mail is DELETED who cares?
Cons
SYNC DELETES YOUR INBOX. Bastids!
Summary
I lost my entire inbox upon sync. All of my current mail is gone. I HATE THIS THING.
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"Greatest email program for Mac Computers"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.2
Pros
I love the style, easy to change colors, fonts, styles. Easy to use. Works well with Mac Computers or Windows computers (PC's).
Cons
no stationary for the program yet.
Summary
I like the program it is sometimes difficult to find a program that works well on an Apple, yet this one does it and it does it well.
I like the program, easy to use, simple, no bells and whistles just works well. I think it is one of the best on the market for simple set up and use.
My hats off to a program that works right the first time and keeps working right.
Updated on Jan 8, 2012 -
"It has almost all the features of Microsoft Outlook"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.1
Pros
It's Free!!! and moreover no irritating advertsements. It's easy to use. Can be used with Multiple Accounts from various domains and on different platforms.
Cons
The Search Function goes bust at times. Secondly of late there has been problems if its being used with Yahoo business mail. We will be able to receive emails but the emails cannot be sent. Will have to wait for the next version 7.1.2
Summary
Great Software...but needs improvement on the Search Engine, Utilization of the RAM and Support for Yahoo. I think this is the only Software that can be a match opfr Microsoft Outlook.
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"Great Mail - Resource hungry"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 7.1.1
Pros
Compatible with setting up mail (GMX, Hotmail, Yahoo, and etc.)
Nice interface.
When you close the GUI, it runs in the background and still receives mailCons
Can use quite a lot of ram at times when running in the background (Won't affect fast PC users though)
Summary
Great mail program and it's free, give it a try! :)
