SeaMonkey

Note: This review covers v1.1 of the software.

Back in the day, an Internet suite called Netscape Communicator ruled the Web with its handily integrated browser, e-mail, and HTML authoring tools.

Then Internet Explorer took over, and Netscape withered away and became an America Online brand (Find the last version with integrated mail and Web authoring, Netscape 7.2, in our library. Note that Netscape 8.1.2 omits the mail reader and HTML authoring; AOL plans to include them once again in its upcoming Netscape 9.0.)

Nevertheless, the Mozilla foundation handed off development of the old Netscape suite to a group of volunteers, who continue to produce updated versions. The latest update uses the same HTML rendering engine as Firefox 2.0, blocks pop-ups, fills in Web forms, and remembers passwords.

Likewise, SeaMonkey's mail program shares many features with the latest version of Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail program, including Gmail-like tags, and anti-phishing features. Plus, you get the WYSIWYG HTML editor, Composer, all bundled into an old-school package guaranteed to take you right back to 1997.

Note: This link takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest version of the software.

--Scott Spanbauer