Manage updates with the Download AppCNET 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 Yahoo:
Ever forget about an important message in your other e-mail accounts? Can't find a message in the account right in front of you? 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 53 votes
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Current version:
3.3 starsout of 9 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-9 of 9
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"Excellent Email Client"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
Strongly recommended App,
1. very Fast, effecive and smart searching
2.Easy configurable,
3.lighweightCons
No cons yet
Summary
I appreciate this revolutionary email client. Its better than Thunderbird,outlook express, M.S outlook 2007 and windows mail
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"Working well under Ubuntu 9.1"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
Integrates webmail accounts easily and syncs google calendar (my replacement for outlook cal).
Cons
Needs better notification and popups for new mail and calendar events. Have not figured out how to get events to notify the system messaging. Still needs some work.
Summary
I need a calendar and email client that can monitor one main calendar that i share and manage a few webmail accounts for Linux. Two way sync with the calendar work well. Zimbra does OK and have been more stable than expected. It aint real pretty but it has been working. I am currently one application away from being Microsoft free.
See what I mean :o\
Updated on Nov 17, 2009
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For Windows, the notification is displayed as a system tray balloon envelope icon. For Mac, you must install Growl before mail and appointment notification will work. You will also need to enable Show a popup notification in Options>Mail and >Calendar. Note: This feature is not available for Linux. -
"Zimbra doesn't work, won't uninstall"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
Absolutely NONE
Cons
Didn't install right. Never did anything but bring up a window that had 3 red dots that flashed in sequence. Can't get rid of it, can't make it do anything. Slows PC to a crawl; takes 15 - 20 min. to load.
Summary
If uninstalled or deleted, comes back next time you reboot - you can see it in task manager processes. Slows PC to a crawl. DON'T INSTALL THIS TRASH! You will live to regret it. I should've known better than to trust anything from Yahoo; tried their messenger once & had the same problem; we had to backup data, reformat our hard drive, & reinstall Windows to get rid of Yahoo Messenger.
I sure hope Yahoo doesn't talk about AOL or Windows...they've got both beat for NO functionality, NO usability, & they totally trash your computer.
Thanks for NOTHING, Yahoo. We gave the other PC to our son; now it's ruined another PC in our house. -
"Far from ready for widespread use!"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
Speed of downloading.
Cons
Not a real competitor for Thunderbird+Lightning and Outlook, e.g. no spelling checker available (even in one language, while I need at least two).
Summary
This product is not mature yet, lacks lots of functionalities and, consequently has a long way to go, before it even starts competing with Thunderbird+Lightning or Outlook. That is not good news because Zimbra doesn't fit now in my strategy to switch from Windows to Linux in the long run (after XP).
Updated on Nov 15, 2009
Updated on Nov 15, 2009Moreover, an important feature like an one-page overview of mail, tasks and appointments is missing .... -
"Works well as a backup to Yahoo"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
After Yahoo mail flaked out a few days ago for hours I decided to make a backup of my Yahoo emails on my computer. Does a good job of syncing once you get the hang of it and read the help file.
Cons
Font too small on Desktop. Don't know how to resize it. Could use a way to select multiple messages without clicking on each one.
Summary
Nice, efficient, backup for Yahoo webmail. Now I don't have to fret about my receipts and registration numbers disappearing or becoming inaccessible.
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"Meh. Not ready for mass consumption."
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
More fully-featured and better looking than Thunderbird/Lightning. Syncs with Google Contacts and Calendar.
Cons
Can't sync GCal or Contacts without also syncing Gmail inbox.
Summary
I want the ability to turn off Gmail sync,while still syncing Calendar and Contacts. As the Editor's review says, probably best for Zimbra enterprise users. I'll stick with Outlook.
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"Unstable Connection to Yahoo's own server!!!"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
Familiar look for Yahoo! Mail users, if that's your thing.
Cons
Persistent authentication failure every time messages are to be sent/received. Have to keep refreshing by going to the account setting page.
Summary
For an email client to persistently fail connecting to its own namesake server, it really is ridiculous. TO have to refresh connection via account setting every time it checks for incoming mail is a pain. Red indicator indicating authentication failure seems to be a permanent fixture. Experiement ONLY if you have all the time in the world. Otherwise, stick to Outlook or Mac's Mail.
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"Great, links yahoo and hotmail available offline."
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
Very handy concept, love the offline capability for times when internet access is impossible or hit and miss.
Cons
Contacts - importing seems to duplicate and very hard to find these duplicates and sort the contacts properly. Also files contact names under strange listings like only family names or no name at all. Obviously needs work.
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"Works is normal."
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0
Pros
It works well.
Cons
It works well.
Results 1-9 of 9
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