Seeking New Mail Client

Can anyone recommend a mail client for use under Windows XP?

I still use the aging Outlook Express as my mail client, largely because I’ve been unable to find anything better. I did try Thunderbird the other year, but found it had no significant advantages over OE, and a lot of clunky new problems.

The main factor pushing for change is that when I’m travelling, transferring mail from my desktop to my laptop is very difficult – even with a tool expressly designed for the job. In particular, mail rules (which OE stores in the registry) do not transfer well. Webmail is impractical for the volume and diversity of email I handle (e.g. sometimes I get 5,000+ survey data emails in a week), so it will need to be a POP3 client.

Here’s my “wish list” for a new mail client:

• Lightweight code – quick to start, little to go wrong.
• Easy filtering – ideally, I’d like to drag an email into a folder and have the client learn that I want emails from that contact to go into that folder. Failing that, to be able to easily compile lists of contacts that filter into a particular folder. But most importantly, all this information has to export easily for when I transfer to my laptop.
• Effortless export – as I say, I need to switch from desktop to laptop without losing any data.
• Secure – I have to protect non-disclosure agreements with commercial clients, so I need software I can trust.
• No fluff – I want a mail client to sort and read mail; I’m not looking for software that tries to take over my desk diary’s job.

Any suggestions?

Cross-posted from ihobo.com.

Update: following a demonstration of Gmail by Peter, I'm now much more confident that this is a sensible step for me to take. I'm going to experiment with Gmail while I'm on the road in July and if it works out I'll ditch Outlook Express when I return. Thanks to everyone for their assistance!

Comments

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawka_m3-DEmrsJq3IxtnqLKWHhdFOo6g6vQ]

Royal Mail? Parcel Force?

[Chris]

I suppose you think you're funny. :)

Can you still not sign in using your Blogger account, by the way? Your google ID is eyebleeding. ;)

[Jeena]

Why don't you use IMAP, that way all the switching problems are just gone and you have all the mails, even those you send, on every computer or gadget you'd like to use because they all are stored on the server.

Did you already try Windows Live Mail? http://explore.live.com/windows-live-mail-xp

[Chris]

Jeena: I haven't tried Windows Live Mail, but I was looking at it since it's advertised as being the successor to Outlook Express.

Do you use or have you used Windows Live Mail? I'd love to hear some advice from someone whose already tried it.

I am using Windows Live Writer for blogging now, which is working out very well - but I wish its cloud storage was better worked out... it's a pain that it doesn't upload options and drafts to a cloud, and instead stores it all in the registry of each computer you use. Seems to go against the goal of the software, but there you go.

Cheers!

[Peter Crowther]

Is Gmail sufficiently secure for what you want to do? If so, I strongly suggest you try it. I did so - very reluctantly - two years ago after I lost our mail server (long story) and would now not move back to anything else. Like you, I typically handle thousands of emails a week.

[Chris]

So you're using Gmail? If we can just end up in the same place and the same time, I'd be interested in talking to you about it. Everyone seems to be pushing me this direction. :)

[Chris]

Update: following a demonstration of Gmail by Peter, I'm now much more confident that this is a sensible step for me to take. I'm going to experiment with Gmail while I'm on the road in July and if it works out I'll ditch Outlook Express when I return. Thanks to everyone for their assistance!