Re: MUAs that compare with Outlook (your chance to show how much better Linux is than MS!!)
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I'm personally using a combination of fetchmail-ssl, procmail, and kmail.
Handles everything I need it to, and a lot more!
> - Must be able to handle multiple IMAP-based accounts. (not necessarily
> on the same server)
fetchmail. Check out the webpage http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/fetchmail. VERY
east to set up and get working. My biggest problem with it was making it
play nice with the SSL auth on my IMAP server, but that was only a problem
because I'm a moron.
> - Must be able to easily change which account I'm sending email from,
> ideally selectable from the individual message composition screen.
KMail all the way. Set up as many inboxes as you like, and they'll all be
viewable Outlook-style from the main screen.
> - Must support caching of IMAP messages to local folders (i.e. offline
> mode) no -- POP3 won't work for me.
I use fetchmail, so I'm cheating...my messages have to be local for me to
even see them (KMail doesn't support IMAP yet). But the transfer is
invisible to me.
> - Must be able to provide a view similar to Outlook's folder list that
> shows me, *at a single glance* how many unread messages I have in each
> of my IMAP accounts. No switching around, no multiple keystrokes -- one
> screen.
Definitely. Almost identical to the Outlook folder list.
> - Must have preview pane capabilities or, at the very least, something
> similar to Outlook's show first 3-lines capability.
You got it.
> - Must have sophisticated filtering/rules capabilities. (pretty sure
> procmail can fulfill this)
KMail actually does support it's own quite sophisticated filtering set, which
I use in lieu of Procmail. I generally just use Procmail to recognize PGP
sigs/encrypts. (Did I mention that KMail seamlessly integrates PGP?)
> - Must support automatic spell-checking of emails.
Hm. If by automatic you mean "squiggly red line", then no. But spell-check
is just a keystroke away.
> - Must seamlessly handle MIME attachments (meaning I click on the "add
> attachment" button/key, select the file from the hard drive and send the
> email message with no other farting around.)
Yessir, as long as your mime.types are set up correctly. I have yet to run
into problems.
> - Must have integrated address book (or seamlessly integrate into
> another address book program) This includes auto-completing email
> addresses as they're entered and the ability to enter actual names and
> have the address program substitute the email address upon sending.
Abbrowser supported, as well as it's own internal addressbook browser. I
think it's extensible for more, as well.
> - Must have integrated calendaring program (or seamlessly integrate into
> another calendar program)
Now that it won't do, to my knowledge. But check out the way it works
with the KOffice calendar (which I don't use).
> - Must synch up with Palm Pilots (at least address book and calendar --
> don't care about synching email)
Can't help you there...I sync my m505 via Windows because I can't figure out
how to make Linux recognize the USB cradle (enlighten me?).
> - Address book must support exporting for use in other programs.
Several different export layouts. I use the .kab version myself.
> - Nice to have a debian package, but not required.
apt-get update; apt-get install fetchmail-ssl kmail procmail
> - Nice to be free, but not necessarily required.
> - Be as stable (or more) as Outlook 2002.
Goes without saying, I think.
> - Does not have to be one single program, but does have to integrate
> reasonably simply. I'm not willing to write custom code or spend 12
> hours on fiddling with things to get them interoperating correctly.
> (especially as this is not something I have to do with Outlook)
On Thursday 12 July 2001 12:28, Kurt Lieber wrote:
> OK, I've read with great amusement all the chest-thumping going on about
> MUAs, MTAs and how Microsoft email products are things that you scrape
> off the bottom of your shoe.
>
> I, for one, am brand-spanking new at Linux and have yet to find a Linux
> MUA that meets my needs. I really do like Linux and would like to
> transition over to it for my desktop machine, but because of it's
> weakness on the MUA side, I haven't been able to do so. ("weakness" is
> my perception - you can prove me wrong by continuing to read)
>
> So, here's a list of my requirements and I'm hoping you guys can point
> me to an MUA that meets them. If so, I'll gladly switch over to Linux
> full-time and forswear Microsoft forever. :)
>
>
> These are, IMO, very reasonable, standard requirements and they are
> things that I *rely* on to get my job done. Again, I really hope that
> there's a package (or set of packages) that will allow me to do what I'm
> looking for. So far, I haven't seen it. And yes, I will gladly
> sacrifice a *little* stability in order to achieve these features and
> capabilities.
>
> If there isn't, then I hope the person who stated "anyone who uses MS
> email products is ignorant" will reconsider their statement.
>
> Thanks.
>
> --kurt
- --
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