Solved alternative to Outlook

[pawz7]

Hello y'all. I have used MS Outlook for many years ( currently 2007 version) and have, by and large been happy with it. It suits me. however I have got increasingly annoyed with it being sloooow to open in Windows 7. I thought it might be my AV ( Eset) hogging processor time at boot, so I switched to Webroot, which is cloud-based and doesn't need to download AV sigs at boot - but that did not help. I have run the MS diagnostic several times and it has not found any problems. I have disabled RS Feed and other options that I never use anyway, but the problem remains, so I thought perhaps I would try something else for a change - but I can't find any other desktop mail client that will give me personal folders, independent of the mail account(s), of which I have three. I thought Windows Live might do so, but any folder I create in that has to be tied to one of the accounts, and that is not what I want. Any ideas please?

 

[kronckew]

i use thunderbird, replaced ms outlook years ago. handles imap & pop access to email accounts. if you want to connect to a msechange server, it needs to have been set for pop3 access. TB allows for local folders on/offline that can be used by multiple accounts as destinations for the mail. takes a bit of getting used to the flexibility. you can add various features by addons, like an event calendar and task manager (lightening).

 

[pawz7]

thank you Kronckew, I will give it a try

 

[pawz7]

kronckew I have tried TB and found it most agreeable. I do not think it had all these features when I used it for a bit many years ago, or maybe I didn't look hard enough, but now it is everything I want and more. It has imported my list of personal files from Outlook, and to my delight I found that I can make the background dark, which is a lot easier on my eyes - could not do that in Outlook. Only thing I haven't (yet) found is an archiving/backup capability, but that is not going to stop me using it. Thank you.

 

[kronckew]

Archiving help: Linky

note that per the above, archiving is a manual op. there is an addon extension that adds autoarchiving. in Tbird, tools menu, addons, get addons, msearch for autoarchive. i autoarchive to a local folder which is backed up by my macrium reflect imaging software.

there is also a free third party mozbackup utility you can use to backup everyting, mail, profile, accounts, passwords, etc.

mozbackup linky

some settings in tbird are a bit hard to find sometimes. the online help usually , ...er, helps.

there's usually more than one way to skin a cat. not that i skin cats
some file/folder settings are in the tools, accounts settings. some further settings for folders by right clicking folder names and picking 'properties', etc. took me a while to find how to add a fancy html signature, but you can... and so forth.

and being mozilla, there is always the config file (tools, otions,advanced, general tab) with it's myriad config parameters.

 

[pawz7]

thanks again. I will look into the archive options you have pointed me to (I use Macrium Reflect as well). I have been using the online help and found that quite helpful. I thought I had found a problem in that I like a particular font size to be visible, and did not think, 'small' and 'larger' were going to be right for me - but it seems you can set a font size in the Advanced menu on Display (?), so that is sorted, if so. I am well 'appy playing with my new toy. Our cats are happy that you have no cruel designs on them - wish that were true for everywhere - and our dear old dog laughed at your sig, she too old to chase anything except a slow football.

 

[kronckew]

sadly, both my greyhounds have passed over the bridge, blue crossed in 2010 & millie left me this easter time, and are waiting there for me. i am working on finding a new doggy to adopt me, hopefully before xmas.

my email siggy in tbird:

 

[pawz7]

nf, heart-break time. We lost our Maisie to cancer - another GSD, when she was six. No more dogs sez I; too painful when they go so soon, but here we are with another one, a retired guide dog all the way from bonnie Scotland. She is a real sweetie. There are plenty out there waiting for you to find them...

 

[kronckew]

both of mine passed due to cancer blue had an agressive lymphoma, millie bone cancer). i hate cancer.

i live in a council flat, we are currently allowed to move in with a pet, but not replace it. they are changing that rule now tho & expect to have it implemented in december, i'll start my hunt mid next month...

a dog is not just for xmas, but that's no reason for not allowing one to adopt you round about then.

 

[pawz7]

ahh, Maisie's was aggressive too.. Yes the Big C. Sadly too common - now I have it as well, but it is manageable so I will be around for a good bit yet. I hope you find a new treasure really soon. What a christmas present that would be, for both of you.
If I find out how to put a sig on I will put a pic of Maisie on here