How to Choose E-mail Software

You probably wouldn't be visiting eHow if you didn't already have an e-mail program, but perhaps you are looking for one that is easier to use or has more features.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computers
• E-mail Software

1. Check reviews in computer magazines and on the Internet to help you narrow your choices.

2. Use Outlook Express or another free program, such as Eudora Light, unless you need specific capabilities these free programs lack.

3. Use Microsoft Outlook if you have Microsoft Word and would like to use all of its text editing features in your outgoing e-mail messages.

4. Buy the program you use at work if it is commercially available and you want to save the time required to learn a slightly different program.

5. Get a recommendation from your ISP. Find out what programs they will support.

Tips & Warnings

• Outlook Express is included in Internet Explorer, which is bundled in Windows and available free for Macintosh.
• Outlook Express, Eudora Light, and other free e-mail programs include address books. Some are more comprehensive than others.
• Netscape Navigator, also available free for both platforms, includes e-mail capabilities.
• Some national ISPs, such as America Online, integrate e-mail service into their software.
• Basic, unsophisticated programs are actually easier to use and faster than full-featured, professional programs. They also require less hard-disk space and RAM. Full-featured programs, such as Microsoft Outlook, typically include calendars, task lists, contact databases, and other "personal information management" capabilities. If you don't need these features, don't let them clutter up your desktop.
• Make sure your computer meets the system requirements of any program you download or buy.
• Some ISPs limit the size of attachments you can send or receive. Changing your e-mail program will not help.

on 8/1/2006 Thunderbird is free. It has an address book, and can import messages and address books from most other email programs. It's better than Outlook Express.

on 12/16/2005 Don't use Incredimail. It sucks up your system resources, the free version not only has ads you have to look at, it also adds ads for itself on every message you send. Even if you upgrade to the paid version, they will still e-mail you with offers and other information - and you have to wonder how they know all your e-mail account addresses since you didn't tell them that information (they send e-mails to each and every e-mail account you add). Incredimail used to have a great spam filter in it, but they removed that in a recent upgrade and now you have to pay a yearly fee to have the spam filter.

Try Outlook or Thunderbird. Both free. Skip the Incredimail. Cute doesn't mean good.

on 11/22/2005 Outlook Express (OE) is best. You can view e-mail messages offline, too!