1492 wrote:

Couldn't think of a better reason to use an email client such as Outlook or in my case Thunderbird for just such a purpose! I'm assuming you are referring to the advantages of using an email client versus webmail? I too have email accounts with Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, and multiple domain name email accounts. Couldn't imagine wasting my time manually logging into each separate webmail account to check/compose my email, when an email client will manage all those functions automatically. And do so much faster! As an email manager, you can configure them to your particular requirements. One example, using IMAP protocal which keeps a constant connection open to the email server, I get new email downloaded the instant it's received, while a copy is kept on the server. I have complete access to all my emails on my computer offline. But can still access and download the same copies of emails stored on the server on any other computer, anywhere. The client handles those functions automatically. With webmail, I'd have to manually download copies to my computer if I wanted them offline. A tedious process with multiple email accounts. Another function you can setup is to have all emails from multiple accounts delivered to one folder. That way you don't have to open the inbox for each account to view emails, yet you can still respond to any email using any of your email accounts. You can't typically do that using webmail accounts, not even by forwarding.

Plus, email clients are typically used for more than just email managers. They also function as personal organizers. In my case, I use Thunderbird along with Lightning add-on which adds a calendar function similar to Outlook. Now using one program, I can manage my email, keep multiple contact lists, multiple event calendars, and a complete task to-do lists. Using a free Gmail account adds a powerful syncing and online backup tool. For instance, if I buy a new computer, I don't have to manually add or use a separate utility to update my calendar and contacts to match my old computer, or any of my other computers. Just install a free copy of Thunderbird with Lightning and a Gmail contacts add-on, and Thunderbird automatically logs in to your Gmail account at startup, and downloads all calendar events and contact lists to match my other computers.

So add/edit/delete a contact or event to your calendar from "any" of your computers, either from Thunderbird or even from Webmail, and all your other computers automatically reflect the updates when they next log on through the net. Gmail will also sync and backup any changes to the built in calendars and contacts from many PDAs(iPod Touch) and most mobile smart phones including Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Media, or Java based phones. In fact, I only make calendar/contact changes directly in Thunderbird, my PDA, or my phone, and never actually use Gmail's online Calendar directly, just use it as a background sync tool. I can't tell you how this has saved me on multiple occasions where I forgot to check my desktop Calendar, but a popup alert on my PDA reminded me of an upcoming appointment. Plus, as a secondary reminder, I have Gmail automatically send me a daily email summary of all my scheduled events for that day. Particularly handy since I have a habit of looking at my emails first, and sometimes forget to check my calendar first thing in the morning. Best part is that all the software and services you need to do this are Free!


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