Microsoft Outlook Express has for a number of years been the
leading application for sending and receiving e-mails. This is not
only due to a good functionality, but also due to the
monopolization from Microsoft, and the lack of competitive
programs.
Thunderbird is one of those programs which can compete with MS
Outlook Express, not only because it has similar functionality, but
it's also user friendly, and it's freeware.
Thunderbird, and other Open Source programs, are products
developed by a community of developers. As everything else, this
community ain't flawless. IMHO it seems they use too much energy
and time developing programs, and fighting the everlasting battle
against monopoly. I'm sure I'm not the first one to think about
this, but what if the community had spent more time enlightening
the masses? I don't see myself as a guru when it comes to handling
programs, yet Thunderbird is quite easy to use.
People's fear of the new and unknown might be a missed issue,
which needs to be put on the agenda. Throughout this article, I
will try to help you understand Thunderbird, as the excellent, free
program it is.
Why Thunderbird?
It's user friendly, easy to install, easy to use.
It's Free, meaning, you can download it from the web, no
charge.
Cross platform, you can use it with Windows as well as the
GNU/Linux operating system.
These reasons alone should make you consider using this
program.
How to download?
At the URL http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
you will always find the newest version of Thunderbird, you will
also find additional information about Thunderbird there, as well
as links to upgrades and extensions, if you are interested in those sorts of
things. :)
How to install?
Download the installer file from the page above, and double-click
the file.
If you got any programs running, close them as advised. Press
next.
Read the agreement, if you agree, check the box and press "Next".
:)
If you want to choose what to install and where to install it, mark
the custom box, if not choose standard.
The installer will tell you where Mozilla Thunderbird will be
installed, most of you will have the same path as I have in this
screenshot.
And voila. Press finish to start Thunderbird for the first
time. :)
Configuration?
When you open Thunderbird for the first time, you need to create
a new account, I will try to show you this step by step.
First click on "Create a new account".
Select "Email account" and press next.
Fill in your name and email address, press next.
Now you are asked to fill in the incoming server, for me it's
"mail.nidelven-it.no", you may be asked for outgoing server aswell,
usually this is the same server, press next.
Now you are asked to fill in your user name for your email
provider, for example "jsmith", press next.
Now you are asked what you would like to call this account, choose
yourself, press next.
You will get a summary, check your information, and if everything
is OK press finish.
Mark your email address and press "Get mail".
You are immediatly asked for the password to your email account,
fill in and press OK, you can also choose if you want Thunderbird
to remember the password. Don't save the password until you're
sure it's typed in correctly - as it is hard to change it once it has
been saved.
If you have filled in everything correctly, you should now be
able to enjoy Thunderbird. :)
