Four desktop email clients that can improve your Gmail experience - fordthisis1996

I father't like Gmail…I love Gmail. But I'm non wild near using it from within my Web browser, as I find the interface, fountainhead, lacking. (Unattractive and unintuitive are two speech that come to mind.)

Certainly, I can tolerate it if I receive to, but I find that I work such better within the confines of a more traditional desktop mail program.

For years that program was Outlook, but I suppose that's overkill for most home users, and I certainly don't comparable having to bargain Microsoft Office sporting to get it.

Accordingly, I've spent a good deal of time investigating consumer-friendly Outlook alternatives. Here's a rundown of four programs you might want to employment with Gmail rather of Gmail appropriate:

1. eM Customer 5

The newly updated eM Client is incomparable of my favorite mail programs. It now supports Windows 8 and includes an auto-archiving feature, ring mail backup and restore, an cleared calendar, and other welcome improvements. Its structured instant-electronic messaging module is frosting on the coat.

Fair one trouble: When you reply to an email, it doesn't mark it as read. That's a crazy oversight, united I was hoping the developers would fix in this version. Else than that, it's just about perfect.

The free translation allows you work with deuce email accounts. If you have more, you'll need the $49.95 In favour of adaptation.

2. Thunderbird

Although Mozilla is no longer actively developing Thunderbird, the program remains opaque, unchanging favorite that I continue to use day-after-day. One reason is that it supports a Firefox-dash corral of add-ons, which can add great features and improve others.

For example, Thunderbird shares pica em Client's odd refusal to mark replied-to messages American Samoa read, but there's an supplement that solves that problem. Information technology's not the prettiest mail guest at that place is, but Thunderbird deserves its reputation as one of the best.

3. Windows Live Postal service

Though part of the decreasing Windows Essentials collection, Windows Live Mail remains a well-rounded and attractive solvent for anyone quest a desktop mail client, especially unmatchable that fits in with Windows' overall look and feel (to say naught of Microsoft Office's).

IT hasn't been updated in a piece, but as Personal computer World's Preston Gralla points out in his review, "It doesn't include all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Outlook, such as tasks and a full-blown calendar, but given that it's freeborn, Windows Live Mail is symptomless worth the download."

I agree.

4. Zimbra Screen background

This is one the mail client I haven't tried myself, but Zimbra Desktop has a loyal succeeding among business-minded users—and there's no reason it lavatory't dig in at home.

Indeed, as PC World's Jon Jacobi wrote in his Zimbra Desktop review, "Not only does this elegantly-titled program offer most of Outlook's features, it interfaces to social media sites and services: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WebEx and Digg currently."

Consequently, this might be the desirable choice for anyone making a go down from Outlook.

Have you found what you consider to be the ultimate desktop email customer? Tell me active it in the comments!

Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about lin and consumer technology. Ask for help oneself with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, operating room try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PCWorld Forums. Ratify adequate have the Hassle-Free PC newsletter e-mailed to you every week.