| Introduction
If you're using Microsoft Windows, you are likely using Outlook or
Outlook Express as your e-mail client application. However, there are
alternatives available. Likewise, Macintosh users have plenty of
options besides Outlook Express or OS X's Mail application. Here are a
few of the leading contenders (note that the information provided below
does not represent an endorsement of any of these programs):
- Eudora - Perhaps the most widely-used alternative to Microsoft e-mail clients, available for Windows and Macintosh.
- Netscape Mail - A built-in component of Netscape Navigator for both Windows and Macintosh.
- Mozilla Thunderbird - This free program comes included with the full Mozilla suite (which also includes the Firefox web browser.)
- QuickMail Pro - While not as well-known as Eudora or Netscape, this mail client has a small but dedicated following.
- Mailsmith - This Mac-only application takes a different approach to interface and functionality.
- Pegasus Mail - Available for Windows only, this mail program has been continuously updated since its first release in 1990.
Qualcomm Eudora
Eudora was first introduced in the early 1990s, and offers a
comprehensive set of standard e-mail tools, as well as some novel
additions. For example, Eudora's filtering tools can alert you when an
outgoing or incoming message might be offensive.
The recent addition of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) support for
enhanced security, and daily e-mail usage statistics are a couple of
the ways in which Eudora differentiates itself from the pack.
You can use Eudora for free in "ad-supported" mode, which means
you'll see banner ads on your desktop as you send and receive e-mail.
The ads do not appear in your e-mail, however. The ad-free version
costs approximately .
Eudora can import existing Outlook and Outlook Express mail messages and folders. Find out more at Eudora.com. Netscape Mail
For years, e-mail "power users" have looked down on Netscape Mail
for its lack of sophisticated address book controls and poor feature
integration. That's changed with recent releases, however.
The Netscape Mail address book provides a helpful "get map" feature,
which can graphically show you where your contacts live and work. The
program also lets you label messages for color-coded sorting.
Netscape Mail also imports Outlook and Outlook Express files. It is
part of the free Netscape Navigator package, which is available for
download from Netscape.com CE Software QuickMail Pro
Available for approximately , QuickMail Pro tries to maintain a "low
overhead" interface for those who dislike too many added features that
may get in the way.
It does provide essential services like SMTP support (for enhanced
security), a flexible address book/content manager, and spam filtering.
Find out more at the CE Software site. Bare Bones Mailsmith
A Mac-only product, Mailsmith is designed for users who require
extensive text manipulation and message filtering capabilities. It is
extremely scriptable, and offers many customization features.
If you want powerful search-and-replace, dictionary, and quoted text
reformatting tools, Mailsmith may be for you. For more information, go
to Mailsmith.com Pegasus Mail by David Harris
Pegasus Mail is a free Windows-only e-mail client. It offers a host
of advanced features like built-in encryption, text glossaries, strong
filtering, and circulation messages (allowing you to send a message or
document to successive people in order for comment and amendment). A
speedy program, it requires a very small amount of hard drive space.
Amazingly, this full-featured application has been built,
maintained, and continuously updated since its introduction in 1990 by
one man, David Harris. Find out more at PMail.com |
