REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY YOU E-MAIL

Reprinted from Renfrew-Collingwood News,
January/February 2005 Edition

In my last column, I introduced many of you to a new browser called Mozilla Firefox. Since then, the Mozilla Organization has released yet another freebie to all computer users whom are tired of the myriad of problems that plague Microsoft Outlook Express called Mozilla Thunderbird. In fact, Microsoft has, albeit very quietly, stopped supporting Outlook Express all together, so if you run into any problems or need software patches from Microsoft, you maybe in for a very long wait. If you have been a long time frustrated user of Outlook Express, this may definitely be the product for you.Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5, like Microsoft Outlook Express, is an e-mail client. An e-mail client is a piece of software that allows users to send, read, and receive e-mail. Both Thunderbird and Outlook Express work in exactly the same fashion; but, I believe Thunderbird does a heck of a lot better job than Outlook Express. Here are the reasons why…10 REASONS TO LOVE THUNDERBIRD

1. Built-in adaptive SPAM filters to help manage all the junk and spam e-mails you get in your inbox. The program is capable of analyzing and learning what is deemed as junk and what is not. The filters will then either automatically delete the spam e-mail or put them in a folder called Junk.
2. Customize the way you view your e-mails. You can view your e-mail, your inbox, and contacts information in three panes on screen at the same time if you wish.
3. Personalize the look of your e-mail program by using the free and readily downloadable themes. The themes can really jazz up your e-mail client by changing the fonts and icons of the program.
4. Extend the functionality of the program by adding extensions that are again free and readily available for download. These extensions simply add functions to the existing program like a stock ticker of your favourite stocks running across the screen every time you read your e-mail.
5. Built-in Spell checker that actually has a regularly updated dictionary. Just press the spell check button, sit back, and relax.
6. Built-in Newsgroup and RSS readers. Users can subscribe to the various newsgroups or RSS feeds on the Internet. Thunderbird will download messages and headers, as well as watch and ignore news threads. For those of you that are still getting your Internet connection through dial up. The readers also allows you to download and read your threads offline.
7. Supports enterprise and government level security features like: message encryption, digital signature support, MIME, authentication certificates which should make e-mailing safer and more secure.
8. Works on just about any computer platform you may have, so there is absolutely no reason why it will not run on your machine if you have a Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP Professional Edition/XP Home edition, Mac OS X, Linux, and Sun Solaris operating systems.
9. The program is small and nimble and weighs in at about 5.6 megabytes. The program can easily be downloaded from the Web though a dial up Internet connection. Click here to download.
10. It is free of charge. No strings attached.

Once you have downloaded and installed the application, Thunderbird will automatically import all your favourite settings, e-mails (new and old), account information/passwords, and address book from Outlook Express or any other e-mail clients you are currently using to Thunderbird through a series of interactive screens called wizards. To begin to use Thunderbird, just start the program and begin e-mailing. It is that easy, no fuss and no muss! If you decide that you do not like the program, which is unlikely but possible, you can simply uninstall the program and go back to using Outlook Express like before. However, anything that you have done after using Thunderbird maybe lost because Outlook Express cannot directly import messages from Thunderbird.

So, if you are tired of all those Outlook Express problems or just want to start your New Year off with an e-mail facelift, give Mozilla Thunderbird a try. What do you have to lose?

Got any questions, comments, complaints or suggestions, you can e-mail me by clicking here or at: gb.technobtyes@gmail.com.See you soon,

~ GeekBoy