All that is true, but the lack of an integrated calendar in Thunderbird remains an issue for those of us addicted to Outlook.
Jeff Hitchcock - [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matt Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 6:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Know Outlook Limitations and recovery tools (WAS RE: [IMail Forum] Imail mail box size limit) Netscape/Mozilla/Thunderbird stores the E-mail in a big text file completely in ASCII format, with one file per folder. It works very similarly to IMail in that it builds a separate summary file that the interface uses to navigate through the mailbox file. It is invaluable for doing spam review since it will show the full source of the E-mail in unedited text format by just simply pressing Ctrl+U. When you forward as an attachment, it also doesn't strip the original headers. Personally, I strongly recommend Firefox and Thunderbird for corporate users where Exchange or some other integrated solution isn't used. While there certainly can be security flaws, they are not actively targeted. It is of course free to boot. The browser is currently better as well (tabbed navigation rocks), and there are many free add-ons for both skinning and enhanced functionality. It is extremely rare for spyware to attempt to install from a website, and I'm not sure if any would actually do anything when using Firefox as the browser. As far as compatibility goes, outside of known proprietary functionality of other client/server setups, Thunderbird doesn't have any issues that I am aware of. Firefox sometimes runs into sites with old code that say they don't support the browser, but in reality, you can mostly code JavaScript exactly the same way for both IE and Firefox, so it is really the fault of the detection mechanism and not compatibility. I rarely come across a site that isn't supporting Firefox any more. They have better standard compliance than any other browser currently. You can also easily move E-mail and bookmarks between apps. The E-mail client doesn't mind having the mailbox files stored on a file server either, so it is easy to back it up globally for all users. It is also profile-aware, so I would imagine that this works just fine with roaming profiles and syncing. Firefox will import Internet Explorer settings such as bookmarks, cookies, saved passwords and other things. Thunderbird will import the address books, E-mail and settings from Outlook and Outlook Express. I have always used Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox/Thunderbird as my primary browser and only E-mail client going back to 1996. I have never been infected with a virus or spyware, and much of this has to do with using this platform. Corporations without Exchange can save big on support costs in cleaning up such things, and improve security by making the switch. Matt Marc Funaro wrote: >Given this information, does anyone know of a mail CLIENT that uses >"maildir" format, where individual messages are simply stored as-is in >directories rather than dumpting them all into one fat corruptible >mbox/dbx/pst/ost file? > >We switched to qmail with maildir last month, and the performance and lack >of locking issues on the server side are simply astounding.... And not >stuffing all the messages in one fat file is a great benefit. It would be >great if there were a mail client that does the same thing... No more >"repair your file" crap... Loss of messages and/or data is simply reduced to >hard drive failure or virus infection, and your mail reader capacity would >essentially be the free space limits of the storage drive (and perhaps >performance if storing a lot of files in one directory, on Windows boxes). > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > > Of Bruce Barnes > > Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 7:22 AM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Know Outlook Limitations and recovery tools > > (WAS RE: [IMail Forum] Imail mail box size limit) > > > > > > While this message is slightly off topic for this list, > > I think it might contain important information for many > > of the lesser experienced users on this list. Please > > forgive me if you already have knowledge of the > > information contained herein. > > > > The bad news is that all versions of OUTLOOK EXPRESS; > > and MICROSOFT OUTLOOK 1997, 2000 and 2002 all have > > MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT of TWO 2 GIGABYTES for the SUM TOTAL > > ALL OF THE MESSAGES in the local e-mail client. > > > > Microsoft Outlook Express stores the data in something > > called a DBX file. > > > > Microsoft OUTLOOK stores the data in something called a > > PST file. > > > > Both of these file formats are ANSI based, and begin to > > experience problems when they approach 1.87 GIG in > > size. If the DBX or PST file is larger than > > 2 GIG, and the user improperly shuts down their > > desktop, it's "all over" in MOST cases, and you will > > need to use a tool to recover the messages. > > > > E-mail recovery may become impossible if the user does > > not immediately stop using their machine after they > > corrupt a DBX or PST files as they may overwrite > > portions of the corrupted DBX or PST files in the > > normal process of creating and storing new files or > > attempting to recover their e-mail themselves. > > > > Outlook Express also has known a SIGNATURE FILE limit > > of 256K. For more information on the Outlook Express > > size limit, see: > > http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;903095&spid= > > 2578&sid=265. > > > > Other problems exist with Outlook Express in earlier > > versions and anyone who continues to use Outlook > > Express should absolutely make certain they have > > downloaded the NON CRITICAL updates by running a CUSTOM > > UPDATE from the Microsoft UPDATE website. This will > > download several patches that will help Outlook Express > > that are not automatically updated. See: > > http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.a > > spx?ln=en-us for more information. If this link does > > not work, then open INTERNET EXPLORER and click on > > TOOLS, UPDATE. NOTE: You MUST use INTERNET EXPLORER > > VERSION 6 and above for the Microsoft updates website > > to work properly. > > > > Additional information on KNOWN PROBLEMS with Outlook > > Express can bee seen > > at: http://support.microsoft.com/ph/2578?sid=265 > > > > The good news is that there is am effective tool, > > available on the internet, that will recover the > > individual messages for OUTLOOK EXPRESS when that > > desktop e-mail database goes over the TWO (2) GIG LIMIT > > and crashes. > > > > The tool was created by a programmer who lives in > > Europe, I think the former Soviet Union, and there are > > 4 different license versions available - ranging in > > price from $27.00 for a "personal" single use license > > to a $59.00 "Business License CD", which can be used to > > correct repeated problems with multiple users who use > > Outlook Express. I have purchased the $59.00 business > > license CD, received it by international mail a few > > weeks later, and used it in several situations where > > users corrupted OE databases. > > Needless to say, when they were done paying for my time > > and recovered from the near heart attack of looking > > critical data stored in e-mail messages within OE, it > > was a relatively easy way to get them onto a more > > secure and stable e-mail client - company wide. > > > > NOTE: I have no business relationship with this > > individual, but have found this particular product to > > be easy to use and, even though he's in Europe, he can > > be trusted with CC numbers and his OE tool does work > > very well, albeit it does convert each message into an > > individual message and then lets you recover them > > individually from the local machine. See: > > http://www.mail-repair.com/ for more information. > > > > Additional Outlook Express data recovery tools are > > available using the Google Scan: > > http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=repair+outlook+express > > > > As I stated above, Outlook 1997, 2000 and 2002 > > completely change the manner in which data is stored on > > the local user's machine, storing that data in a PST file. > > > > If the user improperly shuts down his or her machine, > > or the machine crashes, it corrupts the PST database > > for OUTLOOK. > > > > Outlook 2000 also started using an OST file to > > determine the last synchronization with the mail server > > running in "exchange mode". Again, this file is ANSI > > based and, as such, has a size limitation of 2 gig, > > although for all practical purposes, if an OST file is > > over 1.87 gig, users will begin to experience difficulty. > > > > THERE ARE ALSO SERVERE LIMITATIONS TO THE PERFORMANCE > > OF THIS FILE (FREQUENTLY RESULTING IN DOUBLE MESSAGES) > > WHEN THE MAIL CHECKING OR SYNCHRONZIATION IS DONE AT > > INTERVALS OF LESS THAN EVERY 15 MINUTES. > > > > If you need to repair a corrupted PST file on versions > > of Outlook 1997, 2000 and 2002, you can use a tool made > > available by every installation of those programs. See > > http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010549311 > > 033.aspx for more information on how to run the Outlook > > repair tool. > > > > BE CERTAIN TO MAKE BACKUP COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PST FILE > > BEFORE running the Outlook repair tool - this will be > > an option when you run the tool. > > > > Remember, too, that when multiple users share a machine > > with several different user logins and have e-mail on > > the machine, there are multiple PST files on that > > machine. Remember, too, that Windows NT, Windows 2000 > > and Windows XP all store the PST file in a DIFFERENT > > LOCATIONS, because the user's home directories are > > stored in different locations on those machines. > > > > As the last sentence implies, the TWO GIG PST and OST > > file size limits are removed in Outlook 2003. Outlook > > 2003 also does a better job of housekeeping and cleans > > up both the PST and OST files automatically when > > messages are deleted. Outlook 2003 also attempts to > > recover the PST and OST files from improper workstation > > shutdowns. > > > > For more information on the TWO GIG FILE LIMITATION of > > OE, and OUTLOOK versions 1997, 2000 and 2002, see the > > article at: > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us; > > 830336 which will explain the difference between the > > ANSI limitations imposed on the PST and DBX files for > > versions of OUTLOOK and OE prior to Outlook 2003. This > > article also contains important information for anyone > > who must keep a shared version of a PST file of an > > earlier version of Outlook on a network share to make > > that ANSI format PST file available to users of earlier > > versions of Outlook - NOT RECOMMENDED! > > > > Outlook 2003 automatically compresses the PST files > > when the program is opened, as messages are deleted or > > moved into different folders for organizational > > purposes. This helps to keep the PST database from > > becoming corrupted. Outlook 2003 will also run a > > recovery and compression utility when the user next > > opens the Outlook 2003 program if the user's desktop > > was improperly shutdown. > > > > Outlook 2003 contains significant enhancements to > > pervious versions of Outlook. Some of those are: POPUP > > BLOCKERS, the automatic disabling of active content > > within messages to prevent threats such as the > > attempted takeover of the local machine, and it > > automatically attempts to segregate SPAM messages into > > a JUNK folder, using a definitions set updated by MS each month. > > > > Make certain you do a CUSTOM INSTALL if you upgrade > > machines to OUTLOOK 2003, and KEEP the installation > > files on the local machine (an installation option when > > completing the upgrade or install), so you can do > > updates to this product as patches are released by MS > > in the future as the patches will NOT install without > > the original installation files on the local machine to > > which the product was installed. (This has been the > > case since Outlook > > 2000) > > > > While I am not normally an MS proponent, Outlook 2003 > > not only allows a much larger database of messages, but > > is much more stable than any previous version of > > Outlook. We've upgraded about 5,000 workstations for > > corporate customers so far. Even though there are > > alternatives out there, many people prefer to stay with Outlook. > > > > Keep in mind that Outlook Express is a very poor e-mail > > client for anyone to currently be using. If they don't > > want to pop for Outlook, they should use another one of > > the free alternatives from the internet. One excellent > > alternative to Outlook, and free on the internet, is > > Mozilla. See: > > http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/ for more > > information. > > > > Finally, please remember that NO SOFTWARE is going to > > be perfect at any point. We should all be making > > certain we have the latest patches, whether they are > > for Imail, Outlook, the Microsoft Operating system, > > Mozilla or whatever e-mail client we are using on both > > our own machines and our > > client's machines. Being proactive will save us from > > major headaches and > > our clients from the potential losses and downtime > > caused by out of date or unpatched software, a virus > > infection or an attach on their networks. > > > > A well patched, up to date desktop and servers, a good > > firewall and an up-to-date anti-virus program are the > > most effective tools we currently have in keeping our > > clients protected and our headaches to a minimum. > > > > Bruce Barnes > > ChicagoNetTech > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > > Of Travis Rabe > > Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 20:14 > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: RE: [IMail Forum] Imail mail box size limit > > > > Outlook 2000 and 2002 hit a hard limit at 2.0 GB. > > Outlook 2003 If you convert the PST file to the 2003 > > version can go apparently to 4GB. Outlook Express > > (although never tested) hits its hard workable limit at > > 2GB as well. > > > > Travis > > > > To Unsubscribe: > > http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html > > List Archive: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ > > Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/ > >To Unsubscribe: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html >List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ >Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/ > > > > To Unsubscribe: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/ To Unsubscribe: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/
