Email client recommendations?

I been using gmail for a while now. As I just started uni, I got a college email account. I'd like to use a email client to access both my gmail and college email accounts, possibly monitor some old accounts as well.

I'm looking for something that's,

foolproof, I'm not good with networking and stuff.
feature rich
clean UI
secure n safe
support for all kinds of encoding, I have chinese and english mail going in n out.
Not made by m$, I hate them
free, hopfully opensource
expandable,browser integration (Not important at all)

PS is thunderbird good?
sorry about all the things above, I'm quite picky about what I use, as you can see.

 

I know you "hate" Microsoft, but the best email client I've ever used is Outlook. Every other free alternative just didn't measure up. Microsoft has a free 60 day trial available - you should give it a try.

 

I agree outlook is by far the best out there. I free alternative is windows mail if you have vista.

 

hmm, looks like I'll have to give it a try.
thanks for your help.
any other recommendations?

 

I'm using Eudora, but have done so for years. I didn't get on very well with Outlook, particularly the way one could not separately manage emails and their attachments.

John

 

Thunderbird.

 

Outlook or Windows Live Mail(which is more fool proof)

 

Outlook or Thunderbird

 

Outlook 2007 is the best/easiest to setup.

 

I actually prefer Thunderbird for eMail, and still use it on Linux; however, I switched from Thunderbird to Outlook 2007 on my Windows PC last year because I wanted all my info from my Windows Mobile PDA (Contacts, Tasks, Calendar) to sync with my desktop without having to install a bunch of add-ons (Thunderbird by itself is just eMail; no Contacts, Tasks, Calendar). My PDA is the main repository of those types of information and my PC is the main repository of eMail, so Outlook just made sense.

 

Thunderbird is pretty basic and also free.

I find Outlook 2003 more productive for me.

 

Thunderbird has been working fine for me.

 

It has a few add-ons that are useful including Lightin (calendar), Auto Zip, AdBlock, EnigMail (encryption) and a Junk mail filter.

What else does Outlook do?

 

I can sync Outlook with my SE m600, I am not sure if Thunderbird does that.

 

sync is probably no use to me. I'm use very low tech in the mobile phone/pda area.

so does thunderbird and live mail both have calender?

 

You need to add Lightning/Sunbird to Thunderbird to have a Calendar.

 

I use Outlook 2003 (for home) and Novell GroupWise (for school).

 

Outlook if you can get ahold of it. Thunderbird if you can't.

 

I'm not sure about Thunderbird's calender capabilities, but I myself can vouch for Outlook's abilities. The ability to link contacts to emails to calender items to journal notes back to contacts helps me keep everything written down.

It does take some time to adapt your habits to. Over the summer I sat down with an Outlook book and forced myself to change my habits. I write down phone calls, birthdays, and every little thing I usually remember about a person.

Bill Clinton did this and he amazed and related to acquaintances by recalling details from their previous conversation. It sound nerdy but kinda cool. Plus it gives me something else to do besides firing up CoD and shooting Germans.

 

I used Thunderbird for about a year and loved it. However, I switched back to Outlook once I got Office 2007 because of its features (and the fact that I had paid for it ). For the criteria you listed in your first post, Thunderbird is excellent.

 

I will try both thunderbird and live mail. thanks you guys! your help is appreciated greatly.

 

Outlook 2007 runs slow for me with multiple addresses (work and personal) along with some of the addons i run. If i am just checking mail, windows mail in Vista is awesome. if i have work to do, outlook all the way. especially if its outlook 2007, its a great program.


ev