Re: what email client software is best?

>I use outlook express, win98 for emailing. ( dsl line to a local isp )
>
>It is ok, but I would like the following features:
>    * 1 . multiple address books. Ex. 1 for as400, another for personnel.
>    * 2.   Be able to delete from the address book ( must be doing 
> something wrong, but I cant delete an entry from my outlook express addr 
> book )
>    * 3.   template support. When I start a new msg, I want to click an 
> option to insert pre typed text containing say my name and title at the 
> bottom of the msg.
>    * 4.  Merge selected address book entries and a template msg to create 
> and send a customized msg to each address book entry. Ex: "dear &1. pls 
> join me in a banging your head against the wall exercise by asking ibm to 
> continue support for client access/dos. send an email msg to the addr of 
> this empty hole at as400 headquarters, xxxxxxx."

FWIW, I use pine on a FreeBSD box for E-mail, with procmail, sendmail
and fetchmail to help my mail get delivered, and do other tricks. :)

I can do all of the things that you've listed, and a few other things
that I like:

1) I can telnet into my machine from anywhere in the world, and read my
     E-mail.  (And without bringing my laptop along, too...)

2) It doesn't automatically open any attachments.   When I tell it to
     open an attachment, unless I have a special viewer configured, it'll
     write it to disk.   This prevents all the viruses/trojans/worms that
     everyone seems to get.

3) It's text-only, simple and powerful.  It's extremely robust.

4) It doesn't require the world's worst operating system (Windows)


Here are some things that don't bother me, but might possibly bother
someone else:

1) It's text-only.  Not graphical.  Doesn't display HTML in k-k00l
     colors and whiz-bang graphics.  It doesn't try to be a web 
     browser.

2) Some of the features (especially those provided by procmail) require
    some technical knowledge and programming skills.

3) It doesn't have a point and click interface.  (well, it sort of does,
      but not really)

4) The message editor may seem awkward if you're used to Windows editors.



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