Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird Slugfest- Choosing the right Email Client_5265

Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird Slugfest: Choosing the right Email Client Email clients have always struggled to compete withOutlook Express when it comes to delivery on a Windows platform. After all, Outlook Expresscomes free with every Windows installation and can be easily setup for POP/SMTP and IMAP mail access.

What is absolutely crucial is that Outlook Express has been available for the Windows Operating System since the installation of Internet Explorer 4.0in late 1997, so it has always had the platform on which to launch itself on us, as end users. However,four years ago a new kid on the block stole quietly onto the scene and is slowly but surely giving Outlook Express a run for its money. This email client is Mozilla Thunderbird.

Released late in 2004, Mozilla Thunderbird has slowly gained popularity against the Windows provided email client. This is despite the fact that Thunderbird needs to be downloaded and installed on your computer, as opposed to Outlook Express already being there and ready to use if you're running Windows.

Today's email client user demands more control over what is legitimate incoming email and what is junk, as well as security against malicious attachments from unsuspecting senders.

This series of articles will attempt to compare Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird, and the reasons why users prefer one or the other with those needs in mind.

Features upfront:
Outlook Express: Email, Newsgroups, Directory Service [See image 1]
Mozilla Thunderbird: Email, RSS News and Blogs, Gmail, Newsgroup Account

Download and Installation time:
Outlook Express - 0min. Comes pre-installed with Windows OS.
Mozilla Thunderbird - (Download) Less than 5 minutes on a 512 kbps DSL connection;
(Installation) Just keep clicking the ��Next�� button until you're done toshiba laptop batteries, 2 min.

Uninstall:
OE: Yes samsung laptop batteries, through Add/Remove Windows Components
MT: Yes, through Add/Remove Programs

Ease of Setup: Rating of 0-10 with 0 (peanuts) to 10 (rocket science)
OE: A first time run of Outlook Express will take you to the email account setup sequence right away. You will need to know your POP/SMTP or IMAP details before you can setup your account. You will need to double-back in most cases, from the Internet Accounts popup after you click Tools > Accounts, to set the server authentication if your account requires that the ��My server requires authentication�� to be selected.

Nitpick: The first setup screen says ��Internet Connection Wizard�� which of course hp pavilion dv6000 Battery, this is not.

Rating: 2

MT: You will be asked to setup an email account as well as your POP settings. The SMTP setup comes later, when you try to download your mail. This is a rather curious design for Thunderbird, as it keeps the novice user from being up and running after the initial account setup. [See image 2]

Rating: 5


So, are you up and running? Let's take these babies on a joyride.

(next episode Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird Slugfest:: Ease of Use)Images