Outlook Express is back !!!!

[Willy2]

- For those who don't like Thunderbird "too much", outright hate Windows Live Mail or are appaled by any other mail program supplied by Microsoft but who did like Outlook Express from the "good old" Windows XP days, there's good news.

A group of developers have made a new, stand alone version of Outlook Express. (I use the words "Stand alone" deliberately because in the past OE used parts/components of Internet Explorer.) The program can be used on every OS starting with Windows XP.

(I am glad that this simple program has made a come back).

Source:
OE Classic - Easy to use Outlook Express replacement

Edit: The program also runs on a Win 2000 system.

 

[Digerati]

I first heard about this program several years ago (it came out in 2010). It worked but it never really took off in part because of TBird but also many (like me) prefer Outlook from Office. And more and more users were using web-based clients like Gmail or that provided by their ISP, or whatever worked on their cell phones.

I am trying to determine the differences between the free and pro versions. There seems to be some conflicting information between the "about" page and the "order" page.

According to the Order page, the pro version supports unlimited number of identities, the free apparently none. I don't know what that means. It seems to me any email client program must support at least one identity.

The "About" page suggests the free version supports a "Comprehensive set of rules and actions" yet the "Order" page says the free version does not support rules at all! The "About" page also says there are no folder limits (except by disk space) but the "Order" page says 2 folders for the free version.

Plus the free version inserts ads in outgoing messages.

The stated price is "$24.95 (one-time)" is not bad, but not sure I would really call it "one-time". It is not "subscription" based which is great - I hate subscription based pricing. But you only get free updates for 1000 days (about 2 years 8 months). You can keep using the program after that, but will not get any more free updates. And it does say "at least 1000 days" but who knows what that really means?

Another difference is you can request new features with the pro. Meh.

On top of that, it seems the free version is several versions behind the paid version.

Don't get me wrong. I am all in favor and believe developers deserve decent compensation so they can feed and shelter their families. So I am very much against the illegal use and copying of software. But I think there is a better way to earn revenue than "crippled" free versions that ALSO inserts ads in your outgoing emails.

This program did not get much traction when it first came out, I don't see it gaining much now.

 

[Willy2]

- I never heard any complaints about ads that are send out with my emails. But I can't send emails with OE (or any other email program). Sending emails requires me to open & use my internet browser. (Complicated story).

 

[Digerati]

- I never heard any complaints about ads that are send out with my emails.

It is not a huge deal, but some find unsolicited ads unwanted and annoying. I do.

And if your recipients want to forward your email to another, the ad goes with it, or they have to edit it out - which adds annoyance for some.

 

[Willy2]

- One disavantage of Outlook Express Classic is that it doesn't support IMAP. When I recommended my friends to have a look at/to try the program they nearly all asked "Does it support IMAP ?". But the developers state on their blog that they already have implemented IMAP and are still busy testing & tweaking this particular feature. See the blog post from October 1, 2016. (See below).

Source:
OE Classic - Easy to use Outlook Express replacement

 

[Willy2]

- The first thing I want to make perfectly clear is the following: I DO NOT have a commercial interest in the program !!!!! I am just one of the users of the program who simply LOVES to use the program and have already helped the developers to get rid of a few tiny bugs. I installed the program about 17 months ago and I don't regret it for one minute. And that was not the case with Windows Live and Thunderbird.

- Users who have (like me) the "Paid for" version of Outlook Express Classic ($ 30) and who's mothertongue is not english now can help to translate the program into their own language. A next version (v2.8 ???) will support 10 languages (incl. english). For more information on if and how people can help with the translation:

OE Classic - Easy to use Outlook Express replacement
OE Classic - Help