Full Version: Outlook Vs Thunderbird
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1]
9 Mar 2007
To: ALL
No, I'm not asking about the wine but am looking for anyone who has switched from Outlook (not Outlook Express) over to Thunderbird and is willing to share there pro's and cons in doing so.
I'm fed up with Outlook trying to synchronize my folders when I don't keep any emails on the mail server. I only use a POP3 server and that shouldn't require synchronization.
Thanks,
Dave
From: Shaddy [#2]
9 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1] 9 Mar 2007
Well, I can't talk too much about the switch over, as I used to use Outlook Express at home. But I like Thunderbird. You'd HAVE to compare it to OE, the more I think about it, because it's pretty much just like it. I like having it be able to see all my account folders on the left (I have a few different email accounts).
Outlook has contacts (instead of just an address book like TB), calender, etc... So a lot more features.
Might be worth it to take a look if you just use the email. You can always uninstall it. they can both be installed on your computer.
Can you look at the Outlook settings and maybe change the sync options?
I used Outlook for my other job, and could not replace it because of the calender and contact list.
Shaddy
EDITED: 9 Mar 2007 by SHADDY
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#3]
9 Mar 2007
To: Shaddy [#2] 9 Mar 2007
As far as I can tell there is no way to change the sync options.
Thanks for the review.
Dave
From: BratDawg [#4]
9 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#3] 9 Mar 2007
I don't know anything about Thunderbird, but as a side note, you might want to also take a look at Eudora. Qualcomm is turning it over to open source next month I believe.
While not perfect, I've been a Eudora user for many years so maybe I'm just used to it but it seems to have a fair share of bells and whistles if you want to use them, and doesn't attract some of the bugs geared to Outlook.
Good luck!
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#5]
9 Mar 2007
To: BratDawg [#4] 9 Mar 2007
Steve,
Thanks! Do you know if you can you import the folders and addresses from Outlook?
Thanks again,
Dave
From: BratDawg [#6]
9 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#5] 10 Mar 2007
http://eudora.com/press/testimonials.html
From: JamesF [#7]
10 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#3] 10 Mar 2007
If I understand you correctly, you want to stop the automatic archiving feature of Outlook.
In Outlook, go to Tools->Options menu. click on "Other" tab, click on "AutoArchive" button, de-select (un-check) "Run AutoArchive every n minutes".
That should do the trick.
~James
Sorry! just realized that was NOT the problemEDITED: 10 Mar 2007 by JAMESF
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#8]
10 Mar 2007
To: JamesF [#7] 10 Mar 2007
James,
No, that is not it. It is the sync'ing of the folders that drive me nuts. It is my understanding that sync'ing is needed only when the email is saved on the mail server (imap?)? which I am not using but using plain old pop3 server. What it is sync'ing to is beyond me but it basically locks my computer up 3 to 4 times a day for up to 15 min.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
EDITED: 10 Mar 2007 by MT_DAVE
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#9]
10 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1] 10 Mar 2007
In Outlook 2003, click Tools, E-mail Accounts, View or Change Existing E-mail Accounts. Select your Exchange profile and then click Change. Uncheck the "Used Cached Exchange Mode" checkbox. Close Outlook and restart it.
Or, maybe this:
If you right click on each of the email folders and select "properties" you will see a check box: Automatically generate Microsoft Exchange views".
UNcheck this box on each email folder.
Or.....
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#10]
10 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1] 10 Mar 2007
Right click on the Outlook in the Outlook Shortcuts tray and select Properties. Click on the Advanced tab under the General folder in the new window and then click on "Compact Now" in the new window.
Search for Outlook.pst and see how large it is. If it's over 1GB or 2GB, you probably should do some cleaning.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#11]
10 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1] 10 Mar 2007
Dave,
While I cannot help solve your problem, I can tell you being a fan of Firefox, I DID download Thunderbird. That only lasted a couple of days before I uninstalled it and went back to Outlook.
I have never had the problem you are having. Do you have the "delete mail from server after download" box checked?
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#12]
10 Mar 2007
To: Carl (CSEWELL) [#9] 10 Mar 2007
Carl,
I'm using Outlook 2003 and have used an exchange server. I don't have an Exchange profile.
I will try the unchecking but since I am closing in on 1000 folders, that will take some time.
Thanks for the suggestions,
Dave
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#13]
10 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#11] 10 Mar 2007
Thanks but I don't have that checked.
Dave
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14]
10 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#13] 10 Mar 2007
Dave,
Try checking that box. I bet it will do the trick.
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#15]
10 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14] 10 Mar 2007
Oops,
Miss read your post, I am not saving a copy to the mail server
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#16]
10 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#11] 10 Mar 2007
Chuck,
Forgot to ask, what didn't you like about Thunderbird?
Dave
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17]
10 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#16] 10 Mar 2007
I really cannot remember as it has been quite awhile, but I just thought it was not as intuitive as Outlook.