Author Topic: Postbox - a new Mozilla-based email client (Read 29295 times)

dspelley · « **on:** February 11, 2009, 12:14 PM »

Gonna give it a test drive.

http://www.postbox-inc.com/

TucknDar · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:27 PM »

Very nice, IMO! Support for some extensions would be very nice, but a really nice mail client (at least for the couple of minutes I test drove it). Import from Thunderbird worked like a charm.

edit: I should learn to use another word to replace 'nice'... $:-\$

40hz · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:57 PM »

Now if they could just add a calendar....

TucknDar · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2009, 02:28 PM »

Now if they could just add a calendar....
-40hz (February 11, 2009, 01:57 PM)

+1

Ehtyar · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2009, 03:55 PM »

Lightning for Thunderbird.

Ehtyar.

housetier · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2009, 05:23 PM »

Wow they managed to not make a linux version despite basing it on mozilla. This does not convince me one bit.

dspelley · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:32 PM »

Linux "under consideration"

#

What platforms does Postbox support?

At this time we support Windows and Macintosh.

#

Do you have plans for a Linux version?

It's under consideration, but nothing to announce at this time.

dspelley · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:34 PM »

Calendering interoperability?

#

Does Postbox include a calendar?

We recognize the importance of calendaring interoperability and we'll be working on this area in the future.

fenixproductions · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:40 PM »

Before I'll test I have to ask:
does it allow you to reply below quoted e-mail or above?

"Conversation views" screenshot gives me bad feelings about the second possibility.

I will try that app but I think I am TheBat! addicted already

Also an interface might be "too Mac" for me (judging from screenshots).

Hirudin · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:44 PM »

Looks cool! I'll definitely try it out... but not now for some reason. Thanks for sharing dspelley I've changed e-mail clients a few times and it's usually a PITA.

Very nice, IMO! Support for some extensions would be very nice, but a really nice mail client (at least for the couple of minutes I test drove it). Import from Thunderbird worked like a charm.

edit: I should learn to use another word to replace 'nice'... $:-\$
-TucknDar (February 11, 2009, 01:27 PM)

Hahah!
Good to hear the transition was easy. Thunderbird is what I'm using as well.

tomos · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2009, 04:26 AM »

import: great
export: couldnt find anything about it anywhere or about how mail is saved/stored (format)

support for extensions would be great - they dont have much info on that site really, no road plan

fenixproductions · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2009, 05:10 AM »

After an hour of testing I must say: not so bad. Judging from the look I've expected no options and confusing navigation but interface appeared to be usable. Messages in tabs are also great.

Unfortunately, few things are not for me (I couldn't find solution for them):
- how to switch off web search panel on right,
- how to switch off HTML messages view and get everything as text only,
- "Check default mail client at start-up" option ON but it neither told me about TheBat! nor replaced associations,
- replies on the top (how I hate it).

export: couldn't find anything about it anywhere or about how mail is saved/stored (format)
-tomos (February 12, 2009, 04:26 AM)

Plain text in C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\<Application Data>\Postbox\Profiles\<something>\Mail\<account>\<Inbox>

where:
- <user> - your system name,
- <Application Data> - can be localised (Dane Aplikacji for Polish Windows),
- <something> - some key generated by Postbox,
- <account> - your account's addres; here it is "pop.gmail.com", but it may vary,
- <Inbox> - plain text file without extension.

40hz · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:24 AM »

Lightning for Thunderbird.

Ehtyar.
-Ehtyar (February 11, 2009, 03:55 PM)

That's what I'm currently using.

Wow they managed to not make a linux version despite basing it on mozilla. This does not convince me one bit.
-housetier (February 11, 2009, 05:23 PM)

Yeah, that's a curious thing, isn't it?

import: great
export: couldnt find anything about it anywhere or about how mail is saved/stored (format)

-tomos (February 12, 2009, 04:26 AM)

Something about the way they're doing this (Win/Mac only and no export capabilities) makes me think they're planning to go to a fully proprietary product as soon as they get the bugs worked out. I'm guessing they intend to wed this puppy (as a client) to a closed fee-only online service as quickly as possible.

Company reserves the right to require payment of fees for certain features of the Service. Should you elect to subscribe to such features, you shall pay all applicable fees, as described on the Sites in connection with such features. Company reserves the right to change its price list and to institute new charges at any time, upon ten (10) days prior notice to you, which may be sent by email or posted on the Sites. Use of the Service by you following such notification constitutes your acceptance of any new or increased charges.

These people are not part of the GPL FOSS world. They're just leveraging FOSS for their own advantage. Otherwise, why come right out of the gate (not as an LLC, mind you) but a full C corporation?

The only reason why anybody creates a C corporation is that they intend to sell shares of stock.

That little "Inc." at the end of their name speaks volumes.

Lashiec · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2009, 09:21 AM »

These people are not part of the GPL FOSS world. They're just leveraging FOSS for their own advantage. Otherwise, why come right out of the gate (not as an LLC, mind you) but a full C corporation?
-40hz (February 12, 2009, 11:24 AM)

They used to be, though.

40hz · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2009, 11:44 AM »

They used to be, though.
-Lashiec (February 13, 2009, 09:21 AM)

American humorist George Ade said it best way back in 1900.

From his book More Fables in Slang:

THE FABLE OF THE CORPORATION DIRECTOR AND THE MISLAID AMBITION

One of the Most Promising Boys in a Graded School had a Burning Ambition to be a Congressman. He loved Politics and Oratory. When there was a Rally in Town he would carry a Torch and listen to the Spellbinder with his Mouth open.

The Boy wanted to grow up and wear a Black String Tie and a Bill Cody Hat and walk stiff-legged, with his Vest unbuttoned at the Top, and be Distinguished.

On Friday Afternoons he would go to School with his Face scrubbed to a shiny pink and his Hair roached up on one side, and he would Recite the Speeches of Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster and make Gestures.

When he Graduated from the High School he delivered an Oration on "The Duty of the Hour," calling on all young Patriots to leap into the Arena and with the Shield of Virtue quench the rising Flood of Corruption. He said that the Curse of Our Times was the Greed for Wealth, and he pleaded for Unselfish Patriotism among those in High Places.

He boarded at Home for a while without seeing a chance to jump into the Arena, and finally his Father worked a Pull and got him a Job with a Steel Company. He proved to be a Handy Young Man, and the Manager sent Him out to make Contracts. He stopped roaching his Hair, and he didn't give the Arena of Politics any serious Consideration except when the Tariff on Steel was in Danger.

In a little while he owned a few Shares, and after that he became a Director. He joined several Clubs and began to enjoy his Food. He drank a Small Bottle with his Luncheon each Day, and he couldn't talk Business unless he held a Scotch High Ball in his Right Hand.

With the return of Prosperity and the Formation of the Trust and the Whoop in all Stocks he made so much Money that he was afraid to tell the Amount.

His Girth increased—he became puffy under the Eyes—you could see the little blue Veins on his Nose.

He kept his Name out of the Papers as much as possible, and he never gave Congress a Thought except when he talked to his Lawyer of the Probable Manner in which they would Evade any Legislation against Trusts. He took two Turkish Baths every week and wore Silk Underwear. When an Eminent Politician would come to his Office to shake him down he would send out Word by the Boy in Buttons that he had gone to Europe. That's what he thought of Politics.

One day while rummaging in a lower Drawer in his Library, looking for a Box of Poker Chips, he came upon a Roll of Manuscript and wondered what it was. He opened it and read how it was the Duty of all True Americans to hop into the Arena and struggle unselfishly for the General Good. It came to him in a Flash—this was his High School Oration!

Then suddenly he remembered that for several Years of his Life his consuming Ambition had been—to go to Congress!

With a demoniacal Shriek he threw himself at full length on a Leather Couch and began to Laugh.

He rolled off the Sofa and tossed about on a $1,200 Rug in a Paroxysm of Merriment.

His Man came running into the Library and saw the Master in Convulsions. The poor Trust Magnate was purple in the Face.

They sent for a Great Specialist, who said that his Dear Friend had ruptured one of the smaller Arteries, and also narrowly escaped Death by Apoplexy.

He advised Rest and Quiet and the avoidance of any Great Shock.

So they took the High School Oration and put it on the Ice, and the Magnate slowly recovered and returned to his nine-course Dinners.

MORAL: Of all Sad Words of Tongue or Pen, the Saddest are these, "It Might Have Been."

tide · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2009, 01:30 AM »

I just took a quick look at PostBox. I didn't find any capability to create and use templates. Has anyone else found this feature or am I just out of luck?

urlwolf · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2009, 04:13 AM »

no GPG, no use for me.

housetier · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2009, 10:02 AM »

no GPG
-urlwolf (February 15, 2009, 04:13 AM)

oh I didn't even look that far. That is another showstopper to be sure.

However, I still hope they get a Linux version done and will support encryption. Just so there is stronger competition on the "market for free email programs"

laughinglizard · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2009, 05:05 PM »

Before I'll test I have to ask:
does it allow you to reply below quoted e-mail or above?

"Conversation views" screenshot gives me bad feelings about the second possibility.

I will try that app but I think I am TheBat! addicted already Also an interface might be "too Mac" for me (judging from screenshots).
-fenixproductions (February 11, 2009, 08:40 PM)

You can set it to quote above reply, below reply, or select the quote.
Tools/Account Settings/Composition and Addressing.
You can uncheck the HTML box there as well and it should revert to text messages.

I don't like the mail sorting options.
I'm still looking for an email client that sorts mail like Eudora - the original, not the one Mozilla's working on.

I've been using the beta versions as they are released, the one before the most recent (when they went public) hung up one day when I clicked on it in the taskbar.
When I restarted it, all my email was gone.

Pro's: it imported all my settings from Eudora but it changed the ports of my Gmail account.
It indexes messages in a heartbeat. I like that combined with the search capabilities.
I like the ability to archive messages combined with the indexing, it make searching much easier.
I know Thunderbird has an archive feature, as does gmail - but neither have the indexing capabilities.
I love the To-Do feature.

Con's: still in beta so a bit buggy, and it doesn't sort like Eudora. = )

tomos · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:27 AM »

.. it doesn't sort like Eudora. = )
-laughinglizard (February 16, 2009, 05:05 PM)

I'm curious - how does/did Eudora sort?

40hz · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2009, 12:56 PM »

Take a look at Spicebird. A very promising newcomer to the email scene.

I started a separate thread over here:

https://www.donation....msg151414#msg151414

laughinglizard · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2009, 09:57 PM »

.. it doesn't sort like Eudora. = )
-laughinglizard (February 16, 2009, 05:05 PM)

I'm curious - how does/did Eudora sort?
-tomos (February 17, 2009, 02:27 AM)

Eudora sorts email using consecutive criteria.
For example, if I click on the Who (who the email is from) heading, Eudora will sort the mail alphabetically but it will also sort by another criteria if I want, such as Replied To or New Mail.
What shows up is all the email that's been replied to will be sorted alphabetically and grouped together at the top. Then read email will be alphabetically sorted and grouped under the email that's been replied to. Any New Email is sorted alphabetically and grouped at the bottom of the list.
In other words, it groups all the emails together by criteria, consecutively, instead of being able to sort by one criteria only.
Most email programs will alphabetize email by name only. Then if you click on Date, it re-sorts them by Date.
Eudora will sort by name, and within names it sorts by date, so you have an alphabetical list of email that is sorted by name and date.
(I hope that made sense)
Other programs will sort by name, then if you sort by date, it sorts only by date. It sorts one or the other, but won't sort by date and then by name so email is sorted by both criteria.
I hope that makes sense.

laughinglizard · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2009, 09:59 PM »

Take a look at Spicebird. A very promising newcomer to the email scene.

I started a separate thread over here:

https://www.donation....msg151414#msg151414

-40hz (February 17, 2009, 12:56 PM)

I've tried Spicebird, its very promising.

tomos · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:06 AM »

Eudora will sort by name, and within names it sorts by date, so you have an alphabetical list of email that is sorted by name and date.
(I hope that made sense)
-laughinglizard (February 17, 2009, 09:57 PM)

not only makes sense, I've wished for it on many occasions

EDIT:-
TBird does actually sort by chosen column AND by date but you cant choose the second column by which you would like to sort

laughinglizard · « **Reply #24 on:** February 19, 2009, 06:12 PM »

Eudora will sort by name, and within names it sorts by date, so you have an alphabetical list of email that is sorted by name and date.
(I hope that made sense)
-laughinglizard (February 17, 2009, 09:57 PM)

not only makes sense, I've wished for it on many occasions

EDIT:-
TBird does actually sort by chosen column AND by date but you cant choose the second column by which you would like to sort
-tomos (February 18, 2009, 04:06 AM)

I didn't know that about TBird, thanks for telling me.
Postbox may do something, they have a lot of people asking for that feature. So far they've been responsive to requests for features, recently adding a vertical view for email.
I haven't tried the Mozilla version of Eudora yet so I don't know if it will sort the way Eudora does. They've been working on keeping Eudora's features on top of a TBird engine.