Manage updates with the Download App
CNET 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.
More Products to Consider
-
Join live-video chat rooms from around the world. -
Open, view, and extract data from TNEF-encoded messages. -
Chat with other people and participate in group discussions. -
Talk with friends and family for free over the Internet. -
Add thousands of cool effects to webcam video for live video ch... -
Add dynamic effects to your video from HD Webcams. -
Add a virtual webcam with amazing video effects to your video c... -
Add live Webcam effects to your videos and photos. -
Start multiple Skype sessions. -
Receive email alerts for your outlook.com, live.com, or hotmai... -
Communicate instantly with your friends using avatars, PC-to-PC... -
See immediately whether you have new e-mails. -
Connect your Nokia phone to PC to sync data, download software,... -
Make VoIP audio or video calls via open SIP protocol. -
Add a virtual Webcam for video chats software such as Skype, MS... -
Make VoIP audio or video calls via open SIP protocol. -
Make VoIP audio or video calls via open SIP protocol. -
Chat with your friends from your desktop. -
Get a network solution for fax and voice mail exchange system v... -
Run multiple Skype accounts on the same computer. -
Send fax and voice messages from any computer. -
Capture, edit, print, and share photos and videos from your Web... -
Chat with your friends in text, voice, and video modes. -
View, print, search, and convert MS Outlook .PST, .MSG, .EML, a...
-
All versions:
3.0 starsout of 53 votes
-
Current version:
3.3 starsout of 9 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-9 of 9
-
"Lots of potential but not there yet"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
Can be used in place of MS Outlook
Syncs well with gmail and yahooCons
Flakey syncing with POP3 accounts
No notes facilitySummary
POP3 accounts syncing fails and stays failed - accounts shown as paused without any facility to un-pause. This occurs on all our installations which include XP, Vista and OSX, as well as the latest and previous versions of Zimbra Desktop. The result is that we can no longer pick up POP3 emails on Zimbra. It's a well documented problem on the forums.
-
"Handles my 6 e-mail accounts with a single launch."
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
Handles all my e-mail boxes from a single program launch. Can quickly review all new mail and select priorities. No need to sign in or log out of multiple accounts. Can read, forward, edit or delete my mail off-line to synchronize later.
Cons
Zimbra does not download HTML pages within the e-mails. Viewing web content requires Internet connection. Without pre-fetching, some content cannot be viewed off line. Contacts revisions do not sync well and requires routine export-import maneuvers.
Summary
Overall I am very pleased with the free product. Installation was difficult having to delete it 4 times before a successful 5th install. Launch icons would not install on my start menu or desktop but had to be copied there with the help of Windows Explorer. Zimbra installs on the default user/app data not Programs so a separate client is required for each user. Except for the cranky install, I recommend it to all my friends. coldbluezone ><>
-
"It works and its free"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
It downloads my emails from both my Yahoo email ids. It maintains the folder structure on Yahoo email while downloading. It works seamlessly with my POP account as well. Easy and simple to use.
Cons
Lacks tabs. Wish it has backgrounds and other features.
Summary
I'm surprised a good email client as Zimbra has only a few thousand downloads. Surely many haven't even tried it out.
-
"Great Alternative to Outlook"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
So far it works seamlessly with gmail and google calendar and contacts. I think I'm finally ready to delete outlook from the computer. I've had no issues with RAM or slowness on my machine. Running Win 7 64 bit on a Lenovo t400.
Cons
I wish this had tab functionality so I could switch effortlessly between different open emails. I sometimes need to have several emails open at once throughout the day.
-
"Feature rich and works great!"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
Syncs will all my email providers including Google, Yahoo, and Zimbra
Cons
None that I can think of now.
-
"Works great!!"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
I have used it to integrate my Hotmail, GMAIL, AOL, AT&T, and 2 Yahoo accounts in one area.
Cons
I don't think that it automatically logs you out of the account, but like another review it's probably in the settings somewhere and I haven't gotten that far as I'm the only user of my PC.
Summary
I like the product because for one in Windows 7, Outlook Express went away and this is the next best thing to it I've found and like. If like me, you are not a fan of remembering passwords then you like this one.
-
"Excellent email client for Linux"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
Fast and easy on the resources. Sleek design with plenty of themes out of the box. Absolutely incredible two-way sync with my Google Apps account.
Cons
I haven't yet figured out how to have it open links in my default browser instead of its internal browser, but I'm sure there's a setting for it somewhere.
Summary
This is the only email client for Linux that has worked flawlessly with my Google Apps account out of the box. It syncs with email, calendar, and contacts effortlessly, without the need to hunt the Internet for add-ons or plug-ins to get it to work. For a Google Apps user, Evolution, Thunderbird, and Seamonkey pale in comparison as email clients.
I am also a big fan of Zimbra's terrific use of screen space. One of my gripes with Thunderbird and Evolution was that they did not occupy the screen space efficiently. There was too much room here, too little there, and access from the mail view to other features, such as calendar, was awkwardly positioned. Zimbra uses a tabbed interface that is just a pleasure to use. All my information can be reached quickly, and I can switch effortlessly between calendar view, contact lists, email inbox, and so forth.
This isn't just an Outlook replacement for Linux; this supersedes it. -
"WHAT THE H*** HAPPENED !"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
NO BENEFITS
Cons
CAN'T FORWARD OR SEND EMAILS, TAKES 4 MINUTES TO LOAD A URL FROM AN EMAIL., MY VIRUS CHECKER TELLS ME I NEED TO DISABLE SOMETHING IN THE SMTP TO ALLOW IT TO CHECK EMAIL FOR VIRUSES.
Summary
THEY NEED TO REDO TO MAKE THE PROGRAM WORK BETTER WITH VIRUS CHECKING PROGRAMS, INTERNET EXPLORER ETC AS IT NOW SEEMS TO CONFLICT WITH THOSE PROGRAMS IS IT MS LIVE? THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS?
-
"BS software"
Version: Zimbra Desktop 1.0.4 build 1833
Pros
Its free, kinda.
Cons
I done use offline email clients, but thought i'd try a few out. This was crap. Its slow, ram hog, and works very badly with anything thats not yahoo mail.
Summary
As i said, i dont use these types of software, but if i had to, id pick outlook or thunderbird. GMail offline mode works well too.
Results 1-9 of 9
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
Previous Versions:
