Product Summaries

Client/Server Email Evaluation - 2004

Product Summaries

Apple Mail - The evaluation for Apple's Mail client was superb as it conformed to every major requirement of the evaluation teams criteria. Mail 1.3.7 (10.3.3 Panther) offers more features and speed than previous versions it is also a decent IMAP client provided that the settings are configured correctly. The interface is simple and easy to use for basic users, but underlying in the toolbar configurations lies a wealth of more advanced features. The Junk filter is quite trainable and performs well. We hope Apple's development continues for what has become a very excellent client.

Entourage - Entourage evaluators found the client to be easy to install, easy to configure, and easy to use, while also providing a large set of features. Entourage, however, does not support Kerberos authentication, nor does it have a Bayesian junk mail filter (meaning it is not "trainable"), two important requirements in this year's evaluation. Also, Office 2004 (which will include a new version of Entourage) will be replacing the tested version of Entourage in the coming months. For these reasons Entourage should not be a supported product, but we recommend an evaluation of Entourage 2004 next year.

Eudora - Once again, the team suggests that Eudora 6.1 be designated as a supported and recommended client-server e-mail product. Its trainable spam filtering features were found to be intuitive, easy to use, and accurate, and will more than adequately protect the end user against spam. However, Eudora's optimal spam filtering performance is partly dependent on the choice of server-side IMAP software and configuration. In terms of its user interface, the core functionality remains the same, albeit lacking compared to some other clients, though most Local Support Providers can have high assurances that Eudora 6.1 will meet their needs in FY 2005.

Mozilla - Mozilla has made major improvements in its lastest versions. Some notable changes are the addition of trainable spam filtering, spell checking, as well as better support and a more user-friendly interface. Netscape is not being developed any further and support for it is being discontinued. LSPs are advised to migrate current Netscape users to Mozilla especially now that Oracle is certifying it (browser) on various levels while Netscape has dropped off their list. The transition is extremely smooth, but documentation will be provided in the near future. Due to these additions/changes in the Mozilla and Netscape product lines, we are designating Mozilla as a supported product.

Netscape -

Opera - Opera's embedded mail does not meet our basic requirements because it does not support an LDAP directory, nor does it support our strategic authentication technology. It is otherwise a functional, well-integrated IMAP (and NNTP) client designed specifically around managing large volumes of e-mail. Its paradigm for message management is somewhat outside the norm; rather than organizing messages into folders, they are stored in a single database and arranged into views. While there are some good ideas here, Opera's mail client can not yet be supported or recommended for most of Penn's user base.

Outlook 2003 -



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