Your Opinion - Best Email Program Software?

12/15/2001 | Enlightiator

[Enlightiator]

I am currently using Microsoft Outlook Express as my email agent, but looking for something better and more secure and stable (and as a bonus, less of a target for hackers.)

OK, the real truth is I am looking for something that will make it less likely for me to accidentally delete an entire folder and a dozen or so unread email messages - I have done this three times with Outlook, doing a shift-delete on what I thought was a message line but instead the folder was highlighted. So I'm an idiot, looking for a more idiot proof email agent. I suspect there are more like me out there, so don't laugh.

Any suggestions for a Windows 95/98/ME based email program? Freeware/shareware preferred. (Pegasus is a program I liked and used a couple of years ago, if anyone is using the current version I would appreciate your opinion of it).

[boris]

PEGASUS. It's free and it WORKS.

--Boris

[D-fendr]

Been using Eudora Lite 3.1 for years. Free, does everything I could want, not ads.

[blackbart1]

Eudora is the only way to go. I just got a new computer and the IE browser for the first time. I thought I would hook up Outlook Express for the fun of it because it has fun stationary etc. I disconnected the OE email about three days later. Had gotten 3 attachments with virus' in them in that small amount of time. My anti-virus caught them but I don't need that kind of hassle. No problem since disconnecting.

I used Eudora Light for a while but I love it so much I scrounged and now have Eudora Pro which must be paid for but it is worth it for many reasons one being the strong encryption.

[Enlightiator]

Jumping on the bandwagon for Eudora ... even in sponsored mode.

I just got finished testing out the new Pegasus, and it bites big time!

I myself am playing around with Pegasus for the momement, seems pretty much similar to how it was when I last tried it, but still haven't set it up for multiple POPs (identities I presume for Pegasus). So you like Eudora better, eh? Any particular reasons? Pegasus supposedly has a feature to let you review mail headers before you download from server, but haven't found it yet!

[Enlightiator]

RedBloodedAmerican, IS OE6 much of an improvement over OE5.x?

[Enlightiator]

I did the exact same thing myself. In fact, I started a thread about it. I lost hundreds of emails.

I remember seeing the thread, lol. Thats why I knew I had a little company at least, thanks for chiming in so courageously here! I did find a DirRestore program, but unfortunately my files weren't recoverable (portions had already been overwritten). No big loss though, if it was really important, it shouldn't have been email, lol.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I had problems with OE5.5 once in a blue moon. I have not had ANY trouble with OE6 since I got it (when it first came out). I run windows2000 pro and adv. server and IE6. I like it. Seems to start up a bit quicker (which might not be saying much for Microsoft!) :o) I have Office XP but did NOT install Outlook. The last time I had OE and outlook was when Office97 came out and they caused problems with each other (for me, anyhow) once in awhile.

[Schakaljager]

The Bat, period. Not free, but well worth the price. I suggest you to check it out here.

[Schakaljager]

The Bat also allows you to park messages so you won't be able to delete them.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If you are losing outlook express and accidentally delete an email or folder, it is not GONE off your hard drive until you compact the folders. It is still there. Just do NOT compact the folders and make sure you do not compact in the background (an option). You may find them if you look in the right place.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

losing = using. Freudian slip!!! HAHAHAHA

[asneditor]

Eudora!

[ggraziano]

I used a pre-spyware version of Eudora and liked it a lot, but I wanted the eMail & browser integrated in one program. I've liked Opera for the couple of years I've used it. It is billed as the world's fastest browser, and uses far fewer computer resources to get the job done. It's not moron-proof, but I question whether any program is. Ever heard of making backups? Also, consider upgrading the o/s to 2000 Professional--fewer crashes, and virtually no corruption of other software. Good luck!

[July 4th]

Eudora is fantastic and fairly immune to most e-mail worms. All of those e-mail alerts we've all been hearing about are pretty much confined to Outlook.

Also, if you use PGP, the free PGP software from MIT will integrate itself very nicely into Eudora.

I also like to keep my e-mails going a long way back - it's very easy to save and backup mailboxes, and the formatting Eudora uses for its mailbox files hasn't changed from version to version. A couple of clicks and I can pull up my mail from 1995 saved on CD.

[Vinnie]

A little off the subject.

I downloaded the free version of Opera 6. I can't seem to get it to work and I can't find any place to configure it.
If I type in a web address, xx.xxx.xx.xx(numerals) it brings up the page. If I simply type in the name ,http\\www.freerepublic.com, or the like, it just sits there.
E-mail doesn't work either.
When I start the program I get a pop-up asking me if I want it as my default browser. I answer 'no' as I'm not sure I'm going to keep it. Wonder if that is the problem?

[Enlightiator]

Thanks for the Bat! link, Schakaljager. And thanks to ALL of you for your advice. Lots of Eudora fans out there! I have installed the latest version of Pegasus, and am now downloading Eudora I may also download Outlook Express 6.0 and compare the three in a "shootout" of the email freebies.

boris, so far my thoughts on Pegasus is its powerful and very un-intuitive as far as setup goes.

ggraziano, I have Opera 5 as my 'Aux' browser, its fast! Still not ready for prime time though! Is there a later version out?

As far as email apps go, I like a simple interface, multiple POP capability, and decent filtering. A bonus would be the ability to scan headers on the mail server before downloading and allowing mail to be deleted off the mail server without downloading, so for example large files with attachments from spammers could be deleted without download first. I like Outlook Express, but too many security flaws and that damned highlight bar on the folders when I delete, lol...

[Enlightiator]

Well Vinne, you answered my question as to whether Opera has a later version with your question about Opera 6! I have my browsers separate from my dialer, so I dial first, then open the browser I want to use. You should be able to start your normal browser, then open Opera and it should work. If not, I'm not sure what the problem is, it would seem to be a network/winsock setup issue..

[boris]

"boris, so far my thoughts on Pegasus is its powerful and very un-intuitive as far as setup goes."

Um, yes, but it's great once you've got it installed.

I love it.

--Boris

[gatorgriz]

With out a doubt Eudora...