Email Client Recommendations

[davej99]

Since Outlook Express, Microsoft email clients seem to have got more cumbersome. We lost the collapsible address directory tree of the old wab, which was so easy to sort and backup. Then we got a Contacts folder in Windows Mail which lumped all addresses in one massive list. Winmail seemed to corrupt the message store folders by shortening the displayed folder names with octal-type characters which then import into Livemail.  In Livemail the Winmail Contacts folder is junked and contacts are buried deep in Applications Data after import. In Livemail, to work with many email accounts from different providers it seems necessary to have a set of mail folders for each, not one, as in Express and Winmail. Maybe I am naive to expect to maintain multiple accounts, hundreds of contacts and thousands of messages using a consumer package. - but I could in Express. I suppose I could export and archive messages and contacts, but the concern is that Microsoft will morph its email clients so that I cannot re-import or access them.

Anyway, moan over, please can anyone suggest alternative simple clients that might be easier to work with for many email accounts and large contact and message archives.

Thanks, Dave. 

[Lance]

I use MS Outlook both for work and personal use. Yes it costs money but it works, and works well.

[Glenn]

There are several listed here http://www.emailclients.net/, but like Lance, I use Outlook.

[Rik]

Another Outlook user here. I did try Thunderbird, but I couldn't get on with it.

[davej99]

  everyone for such a quick and helpfull response.

I have Outlook in my Office 07 package. Will take a look, if I can get it to install. Last time I tried it was asking for missing files so I gave up. Any other suggestion will be most welcome.

[esh]

For Windows, Thunderbird. It is easier to backup and I have had less issues with it than Outlook Express or whatever it is.

For Linux, claws-mail. There is a Windows port, but it intentionally does not support HTML email, so often gets frowned upon.

[Simon]

I believe Thunderbird does also have a global Inbox, so you can have all of your messages from multiple accounts, in one folder.

[Ray]

Another Outlook user here.

[pctech]

Yep Outlook 2003 at home and 2010 at work (which connects to an Exchange server) for me.

[D-Dan]

Thunderbird for me - it enables me to have the same mailbox and settings regardless of which OS I'm booted in to. Just set up both pointing to the same profile.

[davej99]

  again everone. Will checkout Thunderbird.

Have Outlook running and a clean import of all 6000 messages and no folder name corruption, unlike Livemail. Tiny snag is I can't seem to export the messages by way of a universal backup. Messages seem to be in a .pst file. Any thoughts?

[sobranie]

If you require Outlook Express (2003/2007) you must remove MS office 2010 etc. Eg: OE will then work perfectly with Win 7 but you must remove all previous MS Office versions & do a fresh install of Office 2003 or 2007.
See here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

[sparky]

I use Windows Live mail now, simply because I'm not the only user of my Home PC and "others" seem to get on with it.

I always used to use Pegasus, http://www.pmail.com/

Haven't used it lately, so not sure how well it works with the newer operating systems, but would happily try it again given the opportunity.

[esh]

Yes, Outlook exports in annoying formats. I know Thunderbird imports them, but I don't know of what other options you'll have.

[Rik]

Try Mailstore Home:

http://www.mailstore.com/en/mailstore-home.aspx

[Ray]

Try Mailstore Home:

http://www.mailstore.com/en/mailstore-home.aspx

I'd second that.

[davej99]

everyone.

Got Thunderbird running. And Mailstore too which looks useful. Outlook has a bit of a legacy feel to it, but seems versatile. Solved Outlook export problem. Winmail will import it and thence to Livemail if you like. Overall have to conclude MS have a cranal-rectal inversion and like to fix what is not broken doubtless to appeal to new users and generate sales growth.

Never cease to be amazed by this friendly, expert and helpful forum, so thanks again, Dave.

[Steve]

I've been racking my brain to recall some email software I use years ago. Found it! Pegasus Mail been around for ages and they still support MS DOS

http://www.pmail.com/

[Simon]

I used that briefly about 10 years ago, Steve! 

[Tacitus]

Postbox is based on Thunderbird but has some interesting features so might be worth a look.  You do have to pay though -$30 - probably around £20UK 

Trial versions, Mac and Windows, from:-   http://www.postbox-inc.com/

[Rik]

I used to use Pegasus, then later Eudora until they left the market.

[sparky]

Pegasus seems to have had several new releases this year Rik and I think I read a Version 5 was planned for early next year.

[Rik]

It's nice to know a small independent can still keep their business going in this day of software giants, isn't it.

[davej99]

Just to say thanks for all the advice.

Went with Outlook 2007 in the end, in parallel with Winmail for now.  Just could not get Livemail to import message folder names over 15 characters, which is by "design." It does not process the OE/WinLive database but Winmail & Outlook do. Outlook look-feel is very configurable. Outlook easy to BU but Livemail is rather convoluted and restore seems unpredictable. Only problem is Outlook exporting to Livemail, but I can live with that by using Winmail if I need to go back. Why do MS fix what aint broke!

Thx again, Dave.

[davej99]

Found a usefull free tool for viewing/checking Outlook message/data .pst files at http://www.nucleustechnologies.com/pst-viewer.html. There is a number of paid for tools that allow .pst processing. I believe there are several vendors providing such tools.

Microsoft provide a usefull Outlook 2007 .pst repair tool at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\SCANPST.EXE". Some notes here http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/microsoft-office/fix-your-broken-outlook-personal-folders-pst-file/ for this and other Outlook versions.