Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 00:56:47 -0400 From: Bob Rankin Reply-To: TOURBUS-Request@LISTSERV.AOL.COM To: TOURBUS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: TOURBUS - 19 Aug 1997 - The Best E-Mail Software _________ ____________ ________ __________ _____________ ___ _ / | / | | / | \ | "Why | Surf When / You Can | Ride The | Bus?" / | \ |__________|__________/__________|__________|___________/ | \ / /______|----\ | Visit the TOURBUS website to see the Archives, |//////| | | FAQ, and Subscription Information! |//////| | | http://www.TOURBUS.com |//////| | \________________________________________________________|______|____| / \ / \ / \ \___/ \___/ T h e I n t e r n e t T o u r B u s \___/ TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: E-Mail Software Roundup As I promised in last week's TOURBUS issue, here's a roundup of several e-mail programs. Many people use whatever e-mail package their Internet provider hands them, but if you're serious about e-mail productivity, you owe it to yourself to check out these top-rated products. When I started my research for this issue, I quickly learned that there are more e-mail programs than you can shake a stick at. But instead of boring you with a detailed review of each one, I've chosen to highlight five of them here. I haven't listed them in any particular order, and I decided not to assign ratings, since they're all quite good. It's up to you to pick one that best suits the way you work, and the has features that are important to you. But before we begin our trip to e-mail heaven, you might like to visit today's sponsor if you have less geeky travel plans in mind... *------------------[ DISCOUNT AIRFARES & CRUISES ]------------------* No gimmicks, no club. Just REAL SAVINGS of 15-70% everyday below the LOWEST RATES available to the public - and FREE TRIPS! *----------------- ----------------* Here are my reviews of the five e-mail packages. Each one lists a company website where you can learn more and download a free trial version. Name : Eudora Pro / Eudora Light Price : $89 (30-day trial version available) Vendor : Qualcomm, Inc.; 800/238-3672, 619/452-9096 Requires: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT, Mac System 7.0 Website : http://www.eudora.com Eudora has been a favorite e-mail program for several years, because it has a slick user interface and a pile of nifty features. Many people use Eudora for the ability to route incoming e-mail into folders, and because it can retrieve e-mail from multiple accounts. The Light version lacks some of the advanced features of the Pro version, but it's still quite good, and it's free! Recently, Qualcomm announced that the PGP encryption program is being bundled with both the Pro and Light versions. Name : Pegasus Mail Price : Free Vendor : David Harris Requires: Windows 3.x, Windows 95/NT (Older versions for Mac and DOS) Website : http://www.pegasus.usa.com Pegasus has an amazing feature set for a freeware program, but the interface is not as smooth as some other e-mail programs. Most notably, Pegasus allows you to run an autoresponder or small mailing list, and has extensive filtering rules which can be applied to both incoming and outgoing mail. Name : Z-Mail Pro Price : $79 (30-day trial version available) Vendor : NetManage, 408/973-7171 Requires: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT Website : http://www.netmanage.com Z-Mail sports some advanced features, but is a bit rough around the usability edges. The ability to automatically ZIP your attachments, is cool, and the folder search function is excellent. Z-Mail is also tightly integrated with the Web, which means you can create messages with embedded tables and stylized text, and you can view web content directly from your inbox. Name : BeyondMail Professional Internet Edition Price : $69 ($39 competitive upgrade) Vendor : Banyan Systems 800/567-8818, 508/898-1000 Requires: Windows 95 , Windows NT Website : http://www.coordinate.com/bmail BeyondMail is a tried and true e-mail program particularly suited for the office environment. Banyan pioneered the concept of rule-based filtering and automated mailbox management, so this product does those things quite well. Corporate users will appreciate the customizable hierarchical folders and address book which integrates personal, workgroup, enterprise and global directories. Name : Web Ink Price : $39 (30-day trial version available) Vendor : Sapient Technology, Inc. 703/729-5936 Requires: Windows 95, Windows NT Website : http://www.stisapient.com Web Ink is a newcomer that packs a wallop. Sporting a built-in web browser, mail merge, spell checker, and spam filters, this is a very complete and easy-to-use e-mail package. A Setup Wizard walks you through the process of setting up mail boxes, and comprehensive online help is always close at hand. Message filtering & routing, automated mail retrieval and multiple signature files round out the impressive feature set of this program. I recommend that you take Web Ink for a free test drive then register your copy if you like it as much as I do. The price is right, and you could win some cool software too. Switching from Eudora or Pegasus is painless, since Web Ink will import address books from those programs. *-------------------[ THUMB YOUR NOSE AT BILL ]---------------------* Learn all about Linux, the powerful and FREE version of the Unix operating system, with the NO B.S. GUIDE TO LINUX. New York Newsday calls it "the most accessible guide to getting started with Linux". Order today and save $5 on your copy! *------------------- --------------------* See you next time! --Bob P.S. - Although the e-mail component of the Netscape Version 3 product is pretty anemic, the Netscape Messenger that is part of the newly released Netscape Version 4 suite is much better. Microsoft Outlook Express is also a strong contender, but it's not officially released yet. The main advantage of these two tools is their tight integration with the Netscape and Explorer browsers. You can learn more about them both here: Netscape Messenger - http://home.netscape.com MS Outlook Express - http://www.microsoft.com =====================[ Tourbus Rider Information ]=================== The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-97, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Archives on the Web at http://www.TOURBUS.com Join: Send SUBSCRIBE TOURBUS Your Name to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Leave: Send SIGNOFF TOURBUS to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM PROMOTE your business on the Internet Tourbus. Reach over 80,000 people in a Net-friendly way. Our sponsors say "It works!" Make it work for you - contact BobRankin@MHV.net for details. Editors: Reprint TOURBUS in your publication for free - Ask me how. Send this copy to 3 friends and tell them to hop on the Bus! =====================================================================