What is a good NON-Microsoft email server/software ?

[gottalaugh]

Hi all,

Just over a year ago I made the life-transforming change from Microsoft to Macs :D .....I am still amazed that I didn't do this years earlier !!

Anyway, stupid me then started using Entourage for mail (there's a LOT to be said re; the advantages of making a clean-break) & recently it crashed & I lots 12 months of important business corro etc :mad: .

Soooooo, I am now determined to rid MS from my life completely, and would really appreciate some advice on what mail software to use.
I'm on a limited budget at the moment (thanks to the iPod mini :p ) so don't want to break the bank.

"An Apple a day keeps Windows away !!" :p

[gekko513]

If all you need is a client mail application. Then I can mention 2 free alternatives. Mail.app is simple and nice. Thunderbird from the Mozilla Foundation is also good, or so I hear.

[morkintosh]

Soooooo, I am now determined to rid MS from my life completely, and would really appreciate some advice on what mail software to use.
I'm on a limited budget at the moment (thanks to the iPod mini :p ) so don't want to break the bank.

If all you want to do is email then the apple mail client that comes with Panther is pretty good. Mozilla Thunderbird is also nice. These are both free. If you want fully integrated schedule and contact management iCal integrates nicely with Apple Mail; again this is free.

[csubear]

Mail.app is very very nice. Best mail porgram ever. I have to use outlook(PC) at work, and i don't like it. Its to busy. Mail is simple and clean.

[iBert]

I have used both Mail and Thunderbird. They are both awesome. I use Thunderbird on any Windows I touch and my Linux server. Mail on both my PB and G5. They are pretty easy to setup and use. Although i liked ThunderBird a little more on just how things can be setup. But using Mail on my Macs. As for the server on the subject line of the thread, what do you want to do? Do you want to run your own email server?

[gekko513]

And if you need a mail-server and you don't have Mac OS X server, you can try Postfix which is a "standard" unix mail-server. It doesn't have a gui that I'm aware of, so you'll have to use the command-line. Here's a Postfix on OSX guide (http://www.stepwise.com/Articles/Workbench/eart.index.html)

[Celeron]

Another vote here for Thunderbird, I use it on my PC and my PB. I don't care much for Mail.app it is missing some KEY features, like the ability to subscribe/unsubscribe to IMAP folders.

[iBert]

Another vote here for Thunderbird, I use it on my PC and my PB. I don't care much for Mail.app it is missing some KEY features, like the ability to subscribe/unsubscribe to IMAP folders.

What are you trying to subscribe to? Not sure if I understand this ability. But I have a couple of emails that I use IMAP, for example my .Mac address and 2 others.

[Celeron]

I referring to the ability to show and hide certain IMAP folders. For example, my mail server happens to be an Exchange server so it has certain folders, such at "Public Folders" that I don't want to show up in my folder list, nor do I want to check these folders for new messages.

There is no way to make Mail.app not display these folders. Deleting them is NOT an option. Both Thunderbird and fricken Outlook Express support this incredible simplistic feature.

[Brother Michael]

I am giving mail a shot righ tnow, because it is an iApp so I figure it integreates well into other iApps...but I am close to switching to Thunderbird. I use it on my Wndows PC. It's terrific and it hasn't hit 1.0 yet.

Mike

[kirk26]

Entourage is still the best out there, sorry.

[FuzzyBallz]

Mail.

Entourage is still the best out there, sorry.
There's no need to apologize for not using Mail. No really, it's ok.

[morkintosh]

Entourage is still the best out there, sorry.

I think that sort of depends. For the office I love the new project center feature of Entourage, so I use that for my mail client (to an IMAP) server. If all you want to do is connect to an IMAP or POP3 server it tends to be overkill.

The biggest problem with Entourage is that once your messages go in, they never come back out ... at lesat not so any other mail client can ever read them.

[Sneeper]

Another vote here for Thunderbird, I use it on my PC and my PB. I don't care much for Mail.app it is missing some KEY features, like the ability to subscribe/unsubscribe to IMAP folders.

Yikes! I never noticed it was missing that ability. THat's strangely absent. I can't even find a plugin to do that.

It's not a problem for me since I can use webmail to subscribe/unsubscribe if I want to change them. But not everyone has an alternate means. Maybe Mail.app for Tiger will have this feature. hmm

[iBert]

OK, Celeron. I know what you mean now. I was wondering why does folders showed. HAHAHAHA

I have those folders you talk about.

[68k_575]

If you need to do heavy-duty business emailing, Microsoft is unfortunately your only choice.:( They drove all the competing products out of business years and years ago.

[iBert]

If you need to do heavy-duty business emailing, Microsoft is unfortunately your only choice.:( They drove all the competing products out of business years and years ago.

What do you mean by heavy-duty emailing? I know of a place that still use Eudora as the email client. Not sure if to disclose the name of such place. But trust me, when my girlfriend told that is what she was using during her intership summer 2003. I was shocked. I think THunderbird can be used for heavy-duty emailing, even Mail.app. But it all depends on the persons preference.

[dorqiekat]

I'm trying to use Mail, but I don't know how to do it at all!! :confused: I'm trying to connect this program with yahoo. Is that possible? I need like pop and stmp addresses or something, does anyone know what it is and how to set up mail with yahoo?

thanks

[crazzyeddie]

Thats not something you can do with Mail.app, unless you pay for a Yahoo "select" or whatever they call it account for pop3 access. :(

[kanker]

I'm trying to use Mail, but I don't know how to do it at all!! :confused: I'm trying to connect this program with yahoo. Is that possible? I need like pop and stmp addresses or something, does anyone know what it is and how to set up mail with yahoo?

thanksIf Yahoo is your ISP, then you can go to their support pages and find the right pop and stmp addresses. If it's Yahoo webmail, then you may be SOL.

[FuzzyBallz]

If Yahoo is your ISP, then you can go to their support pages and find the right pop and stmp addresses. If it's Yahoo webmail, then you may be SOL.
Correction. POP3 used to be a free service w/ Yahoo webmail. But sometime in the 2nd millenium, they started charging for the service. If you're using the service before they made the change, you will not be charged for the service. Yahoo webmail acct can be accessed using any email client using POP3. If you're a SBC/Yahoo customer, the service is free. If not, $20/year.
If you need to do heavy-duty spamming, Microsoft is unfortunately your only choice.
Fixed. Actually, MS's not the only company that makes software that can do group mail.

[kirk26]

If you need to do heavy-duty business emailing, Microsoft is unfortunately your only choice.:( They drove all the competing products out of business years and years ago.

Yep, only the best!

[JeDiBoYTJ]

YahooPops is a program that enables the viewing of your web yahoo mail into an external mail reader (outlook, mail...etc), for free.

there is a Mac OS 10.1 version, but it should work with 10.3. You will also have to complie the source code yourself. (comes with all the ingredients... just need to mix em!)

any problems, there is a fairly active forum on the site, and an in-depth FAQ.

http://yahoopops.sourceforge.net/index.php

[gottalaugh]

Thanks everyone for the advice - I'm gonna take a closer look at Thunderbird - may be a good start anyway :)