Mini Review: Espresso

[Zero3K]

Basic Info

App Name	Espresso
App URL	http://www.kidmoses..../espresso/index.html
App Version Reviewed	1.12.68
Test System Specs	3 GBs RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.20 GHz, 500 GB Hard Drive, Windows Vista Business Edition SP1
Supported OSes	Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista
Support Methods	Email
Upgrade Policy	All updates are free
Trial Version Available?	Yes, 14 day trial, a signature is automatically added to outgoing e-mails that tells the receiver of the message that you use Espresso, and a splash screen that has to be clicked on in order to continue loading it
Pricing Scheme	Full Version - $24.95
Relationship with Developer	None

Intro:

Espresso is a powerful permissions-based email client designed to completely eliminate spam as you define it from your Inbox.

Espresso's unique email filtering system is based on common sense. Everyone knows from whom they want to receive email. Anyone else who sends you messages is sending you junk, otherwise known as spam. Espresso does not filter junk. It only looks for messages you want to receive based on simple, yet powerful rules. Using a number of options available, you decide how to handle messages from unknown senders.

Who is this app designed for:

It is designed for anyone that wants an e-mail client that won't bog the system down and still have most of the features found in others that are bigger than it.

The Good

• Lightweight and portable email client
• Powerful junk mail filtering based on permissions
• Filter messages using regular expressions
• Ability to add notes to individual messages
• Hide private messages from prying eyes
• Automatic blind copy on all outgoing mail
• Easily flag important messages
• Supports POP3, IMAP4, HTTP protocols
• Preconfigured for easy setup of Hotmail and GMail
• Built-in ability to backup and restore mailbox
• Powerful spell-checker for outgoing messages
• Choose to save or delete messages when you send them
• Automatically mark messages as read when moved to trash
• Fast searching for text in the selected folder's/all messages

The needs improvement section

• Has some non-standard keyboard shortcuts
• Doesn't catch mailto: links in Vista unless you modify the Registry (EDIT: I fixed it by reinstalling Vista)
• Doesn't allow you to sync its local folders with IMAP folders
• Doesn't automatically add outgoing e-mails addresses to the address book (even with the option checked)
• Can't disable the dialog that appears when closing the "add contact"/"compose" dialog
• An additional Re: is added to the beginning of the subject of each reply you make to a message
• Unicode isn't fully supported (characters used in other languages look weird)
• There should be a space between the user's reply and the quoted message

Why I think you should use this product

I think that you should use this product because its light on RAM/HD usage, is fast when launching it/viewing messages, and is still feature-packed.

How does it compare to similar apps

It comes with most of the features that they have. Such as Spell Checking and Flagging/Labeling messages.

Conclusions

In conclusion, its a really good e-mail client that is lightweight and is still being worked on (the developer stated that he would update it later this year). My rating for it is a 4.5/5.
 
Links to other reviews of this application

http://www.snapfiles...et/espressomail.html
http://www.shareware.../06zwd5/espresso.htm

[cranioscopical]

Thanks for the review, interesting.

[luc]

Thanks!!! great review.

If it would not be such a hassle to switch email clients.   Do you know if Espresso uses the mbox format for storage?

[Zero3K]

I think it does. Plus, you can import that format into it.

[Zero3K]

*bump*

[Deozaan]

Why are you bumping your own mini-review? What purpose does it serve and in what way is this considered acceptable behavior?

[tomos]

.. in what way is this considered acceptable behavior?

-Deozaan (October 10, 2008, 12:57 AM)

dont really see why it should be considered unacceptable (?)
... as to why he done it I could imagine but that's not really my call

[allen]

It is a bit tacky to bump a review, in my opinion.  Furthermore, the review is not especially comprehensive.  And now I am pissed off.

It has no account setup wizard of any kind and gives no warning . . . I added my gmail account to it via pop 3, it proceeded to send an e-mail to EVERYONE notifying them that their message had been quarantined and will be deleted in 4 days if they don't reply.

Now maybe the readme file has this information, but if you're going to be auto-sending messages to everyone on my list you really better be giving me a great deal of notification of it before hand.  It should have warned me to import my contacts *first*, and it should have let me know what it was going to do. I wanted to check out a light weight mail client, instead I"m spending my morning sorting through bounced e-mails and apologizing to contacts for the confusion.

Unfortunately, your email address is not recognized as an approved sender by my email application, Espresso. Your message has not been deleted, but is being held pending verification of your email address.

To ensure your message is delivered, simply reply to this email with the verification code listed below in the subject line. This is a one-time process. All future messages from the email address listed below will automatically be accepted.

Address pending verification: [email protected]
Verification code: F770082F1D55AFAA

Please be aware that if you do not verify your email address by replying to this message within 4 day(s), Espresso will automatically delete your original message.

Espresso is a leader in client based, anti-spam technology utilizing permissions. To learn more about Espresso and how it can help you eliminate all spam from your inbox, please visit http://www.kidmoses.com.

Sonofabitch.

[f0dder]

Ugh, that's nasty behavior!

[Darwin]

Easy enough to *bump* a review without *bumping* it... Just drop in to post a question: "What did people think of my review" or "Has anyone tried this application? What are you experiences, four months on". I'm sure that's more or less what zero3k was after - some further feedback.

Allen, that is a nightmare story! After you AINOP story, you'll excuse me if I refuse to shake your hand should we ever meet! Don't want any bad luck to rub off on me 

[Zero3K]

Darwin: Yes, I was just after some more feedback.
allen: You could've disabled it from using its Permissions feature by doing this:
              1. Click Tools, Options
              2. Click the Permissions tab
              3. Click the Settings tab
              4. Uncheck the first three checkboxes and click Save.
 

[allen]

My point, Zero3k, is that you wouldn't *think* to wade through the control panel and disable *3* options until after the fact. This is why there should be explicit warnings about its behavior FIRST.