Thread: Power up your e-mail

For many Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express [that comes along free with Windows XP and below] is the most obvious choice as these are the most popular. While Outlook is stellar software, not everyone would put down $130 for an e-mail program. Outlook Express which comes free has become obsolete.

Microsoft stopped updating the free counterpart and therefore it is recommended to not to use it anymore! This obviously leaves the common user stranded without a free and efficient counterpart, which is unless you step out of the Microsoft bandwagon and explore deeper seas. Say hello to Thunderbird! It is made by the same company that makes the much revered Firefox browser. Thunderbird is very much like Outlook but has much more. First and foremost, it's made by a company that has an excellent track record for Internet products and which proactively updates and continuously supports its products. Thunderbird has the added benefit, much like Firefox, of being feather weighted and efficient with excellent functionality in the form of add-ons called extensions which Outlook woefully lacks making it bulky.



There is one essential reason why Thunderbird hasn't taken off so well-it currently lacks a stellar Outlook-like calendaring option (see Anywhere Calendaring).
This definitely cuts off Thunderbird's appeal to the business user but the casual user who doesn't need calendar, or meeting schedulers that Outlook offers, Thunderbird fits the bill well. The truth remains that Outlook is more for business users and Thunderbird is for casual users. This however will change slowly as Thunderbird is catching up with a business user's requirements, Another reason is the unfamiliarity that comes along with adoption of any new product or service. As said before, you just need to brave new seas and try it, if you don't like it you can always revert back to Microsoft's products. So without further ado let's go ahead and give Thunderbird a spin!