choosing a mail client
Below is a brief description of the most common methods that people use to read e-mail. If you would like help switching from one to another, you should consult our related page.
Web-based access to e-mail
- Horde, the Web-based IMAP mail program in use at BU, is very popular. Many people use Horde exclusively, and that's the easiest way to go.
- If you have a different Web-based mail program (such as Gmail or Hotmail) that you prefer to use, you can forward your BU mail to that account, as described at www.bu.edu/pcsc/email/configure/forwarding/.
Mozilla Thunderbird
If you do decide to use a desktop e-mail program instead of, or in conjunction with, Web-based mail, Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, cross-platform e-mail client that we highly recommended. If you want to try it out, the Thunderbird installer can adopt settings, mail, and address book information from most existing desktop mail programs that are installed on your computer, making the switch automated and easy. Download Thunderbird for free from www.mozilla.com and set it up for use with BU e-mail as described in our configuration instructions.
Outlook (or Outlook Express or Windows Mail) and Entourage
Outlook is commercial software that comes with Microsoft Office for Windows. Macintosh Office comes with Entourage. Outlook Express is free software that comes included with Internet Explorer for Windows prior to the release of Vista. Windows Mail is the replacement for Outlook Express that comes installed with Windows Vista. One or more of these e-mail programs could be installed on your computer already. However...
Unless you are also using an Exchange Server account or are fond of the products for some other reason, our staff would sooner recommend use of Thunderbird. Outlook will work, and many people do use it. However, Thunderbird is free, open source, cross-platform, less-cluttered/confusing, and more flexible. Plus, there are several subtle ways in which Thunderbird works better with IMAP accounts. For example, users of Outlook will notice that messages marked for deletion, or those that are "moved" will not be purged automatically. In addition, Outlook doesn't easily allow for use of a Sent Items folder on the server (as opposed to the local Sent Items).
Thunderbird is also more fully-featured than Outlook Express/Windows Mail, which makes it a better choice all around if you are looking for a great desktop e-mail client.
Apple Mail
If you use Mac OS X, you will find that the included Mail program is very good, although many people do still prefer to download and use Thunderbird.
Pine (Telnet or SSH required)
Pine offers a UNIX/text interface to your e-mail. Most people now use Web-based mail instead. However, Pine is still available on the server for those who continue to use it.
Any other mail client
You can actually use any IMAP mail client you want to and we will try to help with any issues you have. In all cases, the information presented on our Configuration Basics page should be all you need to get started.
