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2003 Client-Server E-mail Evaluation Team Final ReportSummaryFor the most part, Team’s recommendation for FY 2004 preserves the status quo, with no changes to recommended clients, only updated versions of them. However, Team will make a conditional recommendation that Apple’s Mail 1.2.5 for Mac OS X 10.2 be considered for supported status.
EudoraEudora 5.2.1 presents no significant change in feature set from last year’s version 5.1.3, though many bugs and incompatibilities with some major Penn e-mail servers have been addressed in this updated version. The large installed user base, intuitive and ease-of-use features, and Eudora’s continued support for favored strategic (Kerberos) and tactical (TLS/SSL) authentication methods, maintain Eudora 5.2.1 as a strong player. It should be the first choice for consideration for deployment by LSPs for FY 2004. It should be noted that Eudora 6.x has just been released as a beta by Qualcomm, and it addresses some of the issues the Team had with version 5.2.1. We recommend next year's Team conduct a full evaluation of Eudora 6.x.Suggested action: Retain Recommended and Supported status for Eudora 5.2.1
NetscapeNetscape 7.02 is a considerable improvement over last year’s awkward version 6.2.3. Netscape’s mail interface remains intuitive and relatively easy to use, and there remains a considerable installed user base. However, Netscape’s lack of support for Kerberos GSSAPI authentication is a major setback, though it does support the tactical TLS/SSL authentication method. It should be noted that the 2003 Web Browser Evaluation Team is also recommending that Netscape 7.02 be retained as a supported product. In the very least, it is a viable and tactical alternative to Eudora for deployment in FY 2004.Suggested action: Retain Supported status for Netscape 7.02
MulberryMulberry 3.0.3 is a fully customizable and full-featured IMAP mail client which supports favored authentication methods (Kerberos, TLS/SSL). It boasts impressive, powerful features which no other client can match. However, like its previous 2.x version, its complexity is also its downfall. Though somewhat improved from last year, on a basic level Mulberry 3.0.3 fails to be an intuitive and easy to use client for the average user to pick up and “jump right in.” The learning curve is steep, and Team feels that LSPs will not be able to develop adequate skills to be comfortable supporting it by start of FY 2004. Team suggests that LSPs give Mulberry a serious “look/see,” to begin evaluating Mulberry over the year to develop some familiarity with it. At minimum, Team can put together basic configuration documentation for LSPs to aid in that regard, and give feedback to the developer to try again so that hopefully next year, a newer and more “ready for prime time” version of Mulberry might be evaluated by next year’s Team.Suggested action: None—do not promote Mulberry 3.0.3 to supported status
Mail (for Mac OS X 10.2.x)Apple Mail 1.2.5 for Mac OS X version 10.2.x is a pleasant surprise. It is included with Mac OS X version 10.2.x, supports favored authentication methods (Kerberos, TLS/SSL), is easy to configure, intuitive and easy to use, and boasts surprisingly advanced features for power users, such as address book synchronization with Palm mobile devices and multiple computers. However, implementation of these advanced features is done in such a way that does not encumber or confuse average users. The learning curve for Mail is small, and Team feels that its ease of configuration and intuitive interface should present no major problems for LSPs to support. However, Apple has traditionally kept mum on statements of direction for their developed products, and Mail is no exception. No guarantees for ongoing development and support of Mail beyond Mac OS X version 10.2.x have been provided to date. Team cannot formally endorse Mail if this guarantee is not produced, though implicit commitment will be apparent if Mail appears in the next major Mac OS X release, to be announced in June 2003. Documentation for Apple Mail will be made available to LSPs for those who need it.Suggested action: Conditional promotion of Mail 1.2.5 for Mac OS X 10.2.x to supported status, contingent on Apple commitment to Mail’s future development.
MozillaMozilla 1.x is functionally similar to Netscape’s Mail interface, with some extra features (spam filtering, for one). Since Netscape’s code is based on Mozilla’s, LSPs may find it a popular alternative to Netscape Mail. However, Mozilla's excessive version releases can make it challenging to support. Furthermore, Mozilla’s lack of “brand name recognition,” lack of built-in spell checker functionality, and lack of Kerberos GSSAPI authentication keep it from being considered seriously as an officially supported client for FY 2004. In the very least, pointer documentation could be developed for LSPs which would refer them to Netscape Mail’s documentation.Suggested action: None—do not promote Mozilla 1.x to supported status
Microsoft Line (Outlook, Outlook Express, Entourage)To date, no major revisions of these mail clients have been released since last year. Yet a considerable installed base persists for these clients, especially Outlook Express, which is built-in to modern Windows operating systems. Though easy to use, the Microsoft line of e-mail products has continued to be a security risk, often the target of virus authors. For this reason, the Microsoft line of e-mail products still cannot be recommended for supported status. In fact, its use is strongly discouraged. However, Team will make best practices documentation available: these will be guidelines to Schools/Centers if they find it necessary to deviate from the recommended e-mail clients.Suggested Action: None—do not promote Microsoft line of e-mail products to supported status
Support DocumentationTeam has committed to develop, and make available, expanded documentation for both recommended/supported documents, and best practices documentation for clients not supported. These are works in progress, which will soon be available from the Team website:
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| Information Systems and ComputingUniversity of PennsylvaniaComments & Questions |
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