Mozilla ThunderbirdMozilla Thunderbird

What is Thunderbird?What is Thunderbird?

• E-mail clientE-mail client

• Usenet newsgroup readerUsenet newsgroup reader

• RSS clientRSS client

• Comparable to:Comparable to:– Outlook ExpressOutlook Express– EudoraEudora– Netscape CommunicatorNetscape Communicator

Supported Platforms

• Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XPWindows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP

• LinuxLinux

• Mac OS XMac OS X

• OS/2OS/2

• SolarisSolaris

Thunderbird Is FreeThunderbird Is Free

• Thunderbird is a free, open source Thunderbird is a free, open source programprogram

• Maintained by the Mozilla projectMaintained by the Mozilla project

• Downloadable at Downloadable at http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/

About the Mozilla ProjectAbout the Mozilla Project

• Launched by Netscape in 1998Launched by Netscape in 1998

• Large, open source community of Large, open source community of developers and testersdevelopers and testers

• Development roadmap available to Development roadmap available to the publicthe public

• Frequent releasesFrequent releases

• Advocate for standards on the NetAdvocate for standards on the Net

FeaturesFeatures

• Multiple e-mail and newsgroup accountsMultiple e-mail and newsgroup accounts• POP and IMAP protocolsPOP and IMAP protocols• HTML mail formattingHTML mail formatting• Import and export e-mail accounts and messagesImport and export e-mail accounts and messages• Spell check as you typeSpell check as you type• Deleting and detaching file attachmentsDeleting and detaching file attachments• Advanced message filteringAdvanced message filtering• Folder retention rulesFolder retention rules• CustomizableCustomizable• E-mail stored as plain textE-mail stored as plain text

Features Not IncludedFeatures Not Included

• Calendar, notes, and task Calendar, notes, and task managementmanagement

• Support for HTML e-mail (e.g. Support for HTML e-mail (e.g. Hotmail)Hotmail)

Junk Mail FiltersJunk Mail Filters

• Adaptive junk mail detection “learns” Adaptive junk mail detection “learns” what is junk and what is not junkwhat is junk and what is not junk

• Will use your mail provider’s spam Will use your mail provider’s spam filtersfilters

• Marking a message as “junk” is as Marking a message as “junk” is as easy as clicking a buttoneasy as clicking a button

Anti-phishing ProtectionAnti-phishing Protection

Thunderbird alerts you when a Thunderbird alerts you when a message might be a scammessage might be a scam

SecuritySecurity

• S/MIMES/MIME

• Digital signingDigital signing

• Message encryptionMessage encryption

• Certificates and security devicesCertificates and security devices

• Attachments never run without Attachments never run without permissionpermission

• Does not allow scripts to run by defaultDoes not allow scripts to run by default

• Does not display pictures by defaultDoes not display pictures by default

Automatic UpdatesAutomatic Updates

• Automatically downloaded in the Automatically downloaded in the backgroundbackground

• Prompts you to install them when Prompts you to install them when readyready

CustomizationsCustomizations

• Customizable toolbarCustomizable toolbar

• ExtensionsExtensions

• ThemesThemes

• Three unique message viewsThree unique message views

• Mail views to sort your e-mailMail views to sort your e-mail

ExtensionsExtensions

• Small program add-ons that extend Small program add-ons that extend the capabilities of Thunderbirdthe capabilities of Thunderbird

• Available on Mozilla’s websiteAvailable on Mozilla’s website

• Made by third parties, so they may Made by third parties, so they may be riskybe risky

Sampling of ExtensionsSampling of Extensions

• DictionarySearch: Look up a DictionarySearch: Look up a selected word in an online dictionaryselected word in an online dictionary

• Contacts Sidebar: Display address Contacts Sidebar: Display address book in a sidebarbook in a sidebar

• StockTicker: Show favorite stocks in StockTicker: Show favorite stocks in a customizable tickera customizable ticker

What Don’t I Like?What Don’t I Like?

• When copying or moving messages, When copying or moving messages, folder navigation is clumsy and error-folder navigation is clumsy and error-prone at bestprone at best

• When in the midst of selecting a When in the midst of selecting a folder to move or copy a message to, folder to move or copy a message to, there is no way to create a new there is no way to create a new folderfolder

Cool Geek TrickCool Geek Trick

• Set up a multi-boot system with Set up a multi-boot system with Windows XP and LinuxWindows XP and Linux

• Install Thunderbird for Windows and Install Thunderbird for Windows and set up your e-mail accountset up your e-mail account

• Install Thunderbird for LinuxInstall Thunderbird for Linux• Copy and tweak the preferences file to Copy and tweak the preferences file to

access the folders and e-mail access the folders and e-mail messages stored on the Windows messages stored on the Windows partitionpartition