Mozilla Thunderbird Email Client - Reviewed
- 10
- Add a Comment
- Windows 7 - Why Microsoft Won’t Have Problems Selling It
- Microsoft’s Windows 7 - Is It Enough? Or Will You Wait To Buy A New PC To Get It?
- There Is More To This Story Than Just The Article
- Which Group Of Windows Users Are Switching To Windows 7? Those Who Are Using Vista
- As Of October 2009 Windows XP Still At 70%
I have been using two email programs since about 2003 on the personal computers that I own. I use Outlook 2003 for my personal emails and also for my MSN account through Microsoft. I also have used Outlook Express for my gmail account. I get Google alerts daily which accounts for the bulk of my emails via the gmail account. I also use gmail as a junker account for when I sign up for things on the Internet or do not want to be bothered by spam. For me this has worked well over the years. Your mileage could vary.
With the introduction of Windows Vista, Microsoft dumped Outlook Express and starting using the Windows Live Mail program which was a shell of O.E. I continued to use WLM until I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7. Part of the install process via the Toshiba Upgrade Assistant was removing WLM that was no longer supported in Windows 7. I thought this was strange at the time but was not able to stop the process. 
After Windows 7 was completely installed one of the updates presented was for Windows Live Essentials. I chose to install WLM once again. Surprise! This wasn’t even close to what it was before. This was a plain Jane version, stripped down to the bare bones. I later read somewhere that Microsoft had removed mail and other software for fear of additional regulations coming from the EU.
The latest WLM was unbearable to use, so I decided to try another email program. I went to the Mozilla site and downloaded a free copy of Thunderbird. The software was easy to setup since Mozilla already had the parameters for gmail built right into the program. I imported my O.E. address book that I had previously saved and was up and running in minutes without any problems.
Thunderbird offers an intuitive program which actually resembles the old Outlook Express. The program uses the familiar icons & text menu bar that is simple to understand. I did some minor tweaking selecting from the Tools menu, Account Settings. The menu was similar to what had been originally offered in the old Netscape Communicator menu’s, which I was also familiar with. I selected to have my trash folder emptied when I exited the program and left other settings at their defaults.
The junk mail filter is quirky at first and needs to be trained. The program itself loads quickly and the inclusion of back - forward buttons are handy as well. Thunderbird is a serious contender as a primary email program.
I would highly recommend giving Thunderbird a try. It is easy to use and will have a friendly feel for those who have used the older Outlook Express. It is a great replacement since the new WLM has been stripped down.
Comments welcome.
Download Mozilla Thunderbird from here for Windows.
10 Comments
virtualpilot45
October 30th, 2009
at 12:16pm
I installed Thunderbird for somebody after trying WLM and Thunderbird ’stole’ the mail off the server - so they couldn’t access the mail from the internet on another computer! Much prefer WLM.
Buffet
October 30th, 2009
at 12:23pm
Ron, thanks very much for a wonderful in-depth review. Glad to hear your installation was so successful. Coincidentally, < 48 hours ago, I downloaded, and excitedly ATTEMPTED to install Thunderbird. Let’s just say I didn’t fare so well. Bear in mind that most lay folk, while not as neanderthalish as myself, are still light years from being as computer savvy as you Windows wunderkinds over at the Nexus. We occasionally might reach an impasse that you would not. Such is my (hopefully not unique) story. During the installation, it prompts you to assign an e-mail address. Can this be the same as the one I currently use, only with a different suffix, whatever that’s supposed to be? Then, the next page asks for my incoming server and my outgoing server? WTF? That’s as far as I got. I may be dumb, but at least I admit it. I have absolutely no bloody idea what these are! After careful deliberation, I bagged it and tagged it. I’d still like to attempt the install again one day, with the help of someone who can decipher thier insideous interrogitives. If that’s not enough of a hint - HELP!!! So you know, the only e-mail I’ve ever used is the original MSN mail that came with MSN (not hotmail). I’ve used it since 2003. My broadband connection is through Insight cable. If you could ever see your way clear to showing a step by step, frame by frame, how-to installation for Thunderbird, I’m sure there’s at least one or two other people out there in my situation (failed install) who’d be most grateful. Thanks for your time, and keep up the good work.
Ron Schenone
October 30th, 2009
at 12:55pm
Hello virtualpilot45,
If you go into Tools - Account Settings - Server Settings you can untick the box and ‘leave the messages on the server’. Most email mail programs work about the same. You just have to know where to look.
Ron Schenone
October 30th, 2009
at 1:14pm
Hi Buffet,
There is a possibility that your MSN account may not work with TB. Below is a link on how to configure various accounts from different vendors, including MSN Premium accounts. However, if your account is one of the old MSN freebies [this is what I have as well], it won’t work.
Like I stated in the review, I used a gmail account and the parameters were all setup for me. This made my job easy.
Suggestion - get a free gmail mail account and give TB a try. The free gmail accounts are great to use for junk mail and helps to keep your personal email clean. Just a thought.
Hope this helps. Ron
Dustin Sabecky
October 30th, 2009
at 1:35pm
I much prefer Windows Live Mail to Thunderbird. It looks much cleaner, and has an overall more comfortable feel. Just my opinion, thunderbird is far too rough edged and needs to come out with their new version that they’ve been ‘working’ on for 2 years now.
Buffet
October 30th, 2009
at 4:53pm
I have MSN Premium, which costs me about 80.00 a year. I’m not seing the link?
Ron Schenone
October 30th, 2009
at 5:20pm
Sorry Buffet,
Here it is.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_accounts_in_Thunderbird_for_popular_email_providers
I found this. It is the instructions to setup Thunderbird, though the directions are for Outlook.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/930008
Buffet
October 30th, 2009
at 7:01pm
Thank you sir!
Don Naphen
November 1st, 2009
at 4:50am
Hi Ron; well I’ve had Thunderbird residing on my desktop for about a year or so whenever I got bored with Windows Mail. Never had a problem with setup or functionality. Now that I’ve upgraded to Win7 Home Premium, I realize just how smart I was !! LOL. It’s always been a straight forward emailer and now it’s my only one. Oh, didn’t have any problems at all with the OS upgrade. It absolutely kept everything intact and functional! That is truly amazing. I find that the shutdown and bootup times are smooth, fast and no hangups.
The only bummer this morning was seeing Philly lost to the dreaded Yankees!
Ron Schenone
November 1st, 2009
at 6:50am
Hello Don,
Thanks for sharing your upgrade experience with us. I believe upgrading to W7 is a no brainer.
Look over at The Oracle [aka Marc] and try the start menu program he found. It returns the start menu to the old way and you see everything. Love it!
Have a great weekend.