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Main Decks => Tech Topics => Topic started by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 21, 2010, 05:16:25 PM

Title: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 21, 2010, 05:16:25 PM
I am now looking for an Outlook 2007 alternative after finally having enough with Outlook.  I am currently having the following problems:

IMAP is slow and laggy and sometimes will crash the program completely.
Constant IMAP errors
Calendar syncing issues with iPhone.
Tasks are out of date.
Notes are out of date.

Does anyone know of any software similar to Outlook that is better?  Just wondering, I'm looking at changing pretty soon.

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Rico on October 21, 2010, 05:17:16 PM
"You seek Thunderbird."

http://www.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/ (http://www.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/)
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 21, 2010, 05:31:39 PM
Quote from: Rico on October 21, 2010, 05:17:16 PM
"You seek Thunderbird."

http://www.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/ (http://www.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/)

Thanks Rico, will look into it :)

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: X on October 21, 2010, 05:47:54 PM
I use windows live ... it's free, works better and easy to use
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Blackride on October 21, 2010, 06:26:12 PM
I love outlook and Windows Live but if you don't want Microsoft, Thunderbird is the way to go.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 21, 2010, 06:45:22 PM
Quote from: X on October 21, 2010, 05:47:54 PM
I use windows live ... it's free, works better and easy to use

Ok....so a Microsoft program does something better than another program Microsoft has?  Tiny bit confused...

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: X on October 21, 2010, 07:15:08 PM
live is kind of the replacement for outlook express. so yeah it does stuff better.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 21, 2010, 07:42:49 PM
Quote from: X on October 21, 2010, 07:15:08 PM
live is kind of the replacement for outlook express. so yeah it does stuff better.

Ohh right, I do remember hearing that (and the controversy over that).  I've been staying away from Windows Live on purpose, but I'll give it a look if Thunderbird doesn't pan out.

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Feathers on October 22, 2010, 05:42:27 AM
I just use the web interface for gmail (or the phone). I haven't touched a PC mail package in years.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: billybob476 on October 22, 2010, 06:05:11 AM
Yeah I've used both Outlook and Thunderbird, but really if you're just using IMAP to a gmail account or something, just use the web interface. It's just fine.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Rico on October 22, 2010, 07:13:24 AM
Yep, I use Gmail on the net for 99% of email these days.  Much easier.  Once in a great while I'll use Thunderbird for a specific website email address like:  rico@treksf.com or something like that.  But you can even configure Gmail for outside domains now if you need that functionality.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: billybob476 on October 22, 2010, 07:23:55 AM
Quote from: Rico on October 22, 2010, 07:13:24 AM
Yep, I use Gmail on the net for 99% of email these days.  Much easier.  Once in a great while I'll use Thunderbird for a specific website email address like:  rico@treksf.com or something like that.  But you can even configure Gmail for outside domains now if you need that functionality.
...or set your other domain to auto-forward to gmail :)
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Rico on October 22, 2010, 07:56:19 AM
Of course, but sometimes you may need to do both outgoing and incoming email from a particular domain email address.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 22, 2010, 11:05:36 AM
I prefer having an outlook type program for the features it brings my desktops.  While I am centralizing my contacts and such via Gmail, I still prefer having an Outlook-esque program, since notifications for emails are quite nice.  :) 

Tested out Thunderbird last night and it has a lot of features I actually missed from Outlook Express and I had forgotten about.  That was very nice.  Going to test for a couple more weeks while I move my information over to my Gmail accounts.  The trick will be to avoid any sync issues, (creating multiple appointments) but I think I'll get past that soon enough. 

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 22, 2010, 11:11:01 AM
Also forgot to mention I have three email addresses for various reasons so I more or less need it to centralize my email in one place. 

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Feathers on October 22, 2010, 11:14:23 AM
I hate to incur anyone's wrath ;) but that's what the iPhone does for me which is why I don't use a desktop program. Equally good (back when the work IT restrictions were more lax) was the Gmail Notifier program for the PC.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Rico on October 22, 2010, 11:20:47 AM
I use an email notifier addon in Firefox.  It can handle just about any email account and multiple accounts at once.  Gives me a small tone if any of my many (too many) email accounts gets a message.
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on October 22, 2010, 11:30:15 AM
Quote from: Feathers on October 22, 2010, 11:14:23 AM
I hate to incur anyone's wrath ;) but that's what the iPhone does for me which is why I don't use a desktop program. Equally good (back when the work IT restrictions were more lax) was the Gmail Notifier program for the PC.

Yeah, true, with Boxcar I almost don't need a Outlook program, but I prefer using a big screen sometimes.  And i have two of them  :P  Until I have an iPad, that is certainly difficult atm.  

@Rico, I might consider that option too.  

King
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: Bromptonboy on October 22, 2010, 11:57:39 AM
Thunderbird seems pretty nice as a POP/3 alternative (I have been using Outlook 2007).
Title: Re: Outlook alternative
Post by: KingIsaacLinksr on November 02, 2010, 10:24:25 PM
Thanks guys btw, I've switched over to Thunderbird now and your help was very much appreciated :)

King