Looking for new local email client

[HappyKayakers]

I've been using Thunderbird almost forever but getting very tired of the 'unresponsive script' warnings that I can't find a solution for. Has anyone else found a decent local email client that can import messages/folders/accounts directly from Thunderbird? During a quick search, it looked like Opera might fit the bill. Any Opera users out there?

Just to reiterate, I don't want to switch to webmail. I prefer a local email client.

[AsheGuy]

1492 wrote:
If you only have an email account or two, then it may not be worth using a local email management app such as a client. However, I actively monitor 8 email accounts, some with multiple addresses, so using an email client makes it a snap.

What does using a local email client have to do with managing multiple email accounts???? Many of us have multiple email accounts and manage quite easily without using a local email client. It's just a matter of choice, not function.

ccchuck wrote:
wow, we RV folk really have our opinions on about everything...

Exactly.

[1492]

If you only have an email account or two, then it may not be worth using a local email management app such as a client. However, I actively monitor 8 email accounts, some with multiple addresses, so using an email client makes it a snap.

[ccchuck]

wow, we RV folk really have our opinions on about everything - I do have a gmail account as well as the account provided by my internet company.
Deciding which way to go - online or local- is one of those decisions that can cut both ways. Now about staying overnight at walmart.....

[mich800]

I do all the above with my gmail. I use outlook and access my gmail in outlook and is stored locally after the emails are downloaded. I can still check my email in outlook even without an internet connection. I never login the the web based version.

[1492]

Emails are security scanned by the provider whether retrieved by web mail or by an email client. Sounds more like a browser security warning.

[wa8yxm]

I use web mail.. I have several addresses but they resolve to 2 different mail hosts,, Both offer Web mail.

This means I can access my mail from any computer anywhere

It means that Mal-Ware attachments NEVER get downloaded to my computers.

It means that mail is shared across every computer and device capable of access.

And it means I do not need to put up with all the client mail issues.

True Story... I once tried to download a known infected attachment from one of my Web mail services.. Finally gave up,, Every time I clicked "Yes I do" the thing popped up an even stronger warning about the infected file.

(NOTE: had it actually downloaded, my resident software would have sequestered it, and I had a full back up of the hard drive so I could erase and start over at a point just ahead of the infected download.. In short it was a test).

[1492]

I also prefer an email client over any web based solution. Many more advantages than not. And have used Thunderbird for personnel email pretty much since it was first introduced.

Outlook is powerful, but better suited for the Enterprise environment where its advantages out way Thunderbird. So use MS at work.

One useful feature is that an email client such as Thunderbird can keep a local copy of email on your system, not just on the email provider's server. You don't need web access to retrieve old email, as you would with most web based systems. Plus, you're not relying on a provider to back up your valuable email as most all have at one time or another experienced server failures, and were not able to restore all account holders mail. Not necessarily an issue with Thunderbird, as you can auto re-synced lost email on the provider's mail server when using IMAP protocol.

A big plus for Thunderbird is that it stores all local email, account settings, passwords, etc in a single profile folder which can be located anywhere on your system. You can copy this profile folder and use it to mirror your other desktop, notebook, or tablet email accounts without having to start from scratch.

But more importantly, you can easily secure your emails/passwords by encrypting the folder locally, and also back it up to a separate drive.

Mine gets backed up from an encrypted container to another encrypted backup drive twice daily automatically. Which makes it easy to restore as I did not too long ago when I accidentally uninstalled both Thunderbird and Firefox with all account info. Was back to normal in less than 15 minutes as if nothing had happened.

[AsheGuy]

mlts22 wrote:
I am with you -- I far prefer a local E-mail client over Web stuff because I don't have to flip between all my E-mail providers and deal with their web pages.

Nothing wrong with preferring a local email client, but your reason indicates you don't understand email options. The reason I prefer an email program like Gmail is that it can retrieve all my email from multiple addresses and when I respond to an email it can (by option) go out with a "from" email address the same that it was sent to. I never go to any email domain's webmail site. It can be configured to work any way the user wants.

Plus, it has the advantage of not being PC-based and available from any device and is always backed up.

[ccchuck]

I've used seamonkey for years with few problems, I'm told that the mail subdirectories for thunderbird can be switched into a new install of seamonkey - the two programs are very similar.

[2oldman]

mlts22 wrote:
I far prefer a local E-mail client over Web stuff because I don't have to flip between all my E-mail providers and deal with their web pages.

Why do you have more than one email address?

My smartphone is now my email client, not that it's something I was looking for.

[HappyKayakers]

mlts22 wrote:
I had that problem myself. I ended up deleting the .MSF files, which worked, and TB rebuilt these (MSF means message summary files, or indexes/caches.) This cured my issues. There is a utility called ThunderFix that does the same thing.

Another alternative is a utility called SeaMonkey, which is an all-in-one E-mail program, NNTP reader, HTML editor, and Web browser. It isn't as full featured as TB, but it is an alternative.

Finally, there is always Outlook.

I am with you -- I far prefer a local E-mail client over Web stuff because I don't have to flip between all my E-mail providers and deal with their web pages.

Personally, I use Thunderbird as my "read-'em-all" client that hits all my E-mail accounts via IMAP. However, for my formal home/business address, I also have Outlook, so I can send out proper S/MIME signed messages and have better Exchange integration.

Plus, Thunderbird stores E-mail in a fairly sane format that is readable by almost any mail agent, which is great for long term storage.

Thanks for the tip on ThunderFix. I'm trying that to see if it resolves the problem.

[pappcam]

I ditched local or ISP supplied email and completely switched over to Gmail but when I did use the ISP's mail I used whatever was free with Windows which used to be Outlook Express and then Windows Live Mail.

I enjoy being able to access my email from anywhere I want using whatever I want.

[Chris_Bryant]

IMHO, nothing has ever come close to Eudora 4.x and 5. There is an open source version, but it is really a modified Thunderbird- https://wiki.mozilla.org/Eudora_OSE.
I would try to fix T-Bird...

[Hank_MI]

Windows Live mail, looks and feels like Outlook. Downloads the messages to your PC but does synchronize across multiple PC's