Claws Mail is a great basic email client on its native Linux platform, and the Windows port I looked at is done very nicely. It lacks automatic account configuration à la Outlook, but it supports multiple accounts, filters, and has a threaded view of messages. It's attractively simple, but could use a better way to import existing email and addresses.

I found much to like about Claws Mail. I love its simple appearance and the way it properly handles return addresses with multiple accounts, automatically using the address that the email was sent to. Outlook's insistence upon using only the address associated with the server the email was retrieved from drives me nuts and is why I've actively been exploring alternatives.

One function Claws Mail needs is a calendar--or even better, access to my Google calendar as Zimbra Desktop provides. Still, once you've imported your old email, Claws Email's single-minded dedication to the logical approach to handling of electronic post can be addictive.

Note: Claws Email is part of email and encryption package Ggp4win, and that is the name of the file that downloads.

--Jon L. Jacobi