Category: Linux
If you're running Lubuntu or possibly even an LXDE-based distribution, chances are you have Sylpheed installed and probably even using it. In anecdotal use, Sylpheed is fast and efficient in delivering, receiving, displaying, and storing e-mail. It doesn't have the occasional anomalies Thunderbird suffers, such as Thunderbird being unable to save a Sent message. Thankfully, it makes exporting and importing e-mail data very simple in comparison to Windows Live Mail and even Thunderbird. Sylpheed even supports the old Outlook Express .dbx file format for e-mail.
Sylpheed is equipped with standard features found in most e-mail clients and users can configure Actions, Filters, Templates, and Accounts. Although the Sylpheed web site describes the e-mail client as simple to use, it's actually a fairly advanced e-mail client in comparison to Apple Mail, Windows Live Mail, and even Evolution. Setting up Actions, for example, involves at least a basic understanding of writing commands for the CLI. Sylpheed also prominently offers PGP signatures and encryption, not exactly a common feature found in general clients. Sylpheed, however, really is lightweight compared to the dizzying options found in Outlook or Thunderbird and devoted users would probably be running all the included advanced features in no time.
Limitations
For secure and general handling of e-mail, Sylpheed will do in a pinch, especially if you're accustomed to backing up and organizing your Gmail. However, it does lack HTML rendering, which prevents me from pretty much writing blogs with images and sending them to Blogger.com.
Having been a user of Thunderbird on Linux and Windows for years and a Windows Live Mail user in Windows 7, there are a few things I had to get used to. For instance, using the Insert file on the control bar to insert an image will actually display the code of the image rather than placing the image inline (the same is true if you tried to insert a PDF). Adding a simple hyperlink is also somewhat of a challenge. Sylpheed, however, does offer to change the default editor for composing messages.
For users who want more, they can opt for Claws, a Sylpheed-based application which matches the features of more mainstream e-mail clients.
The Future of E-mail Clients
There's little doubt that the need for e-mail clients will never quite disappear, though users are now more accustomed to e-mail clients that are web-based (such as the excellent Outlook.com) or integrated to their mobile OS (iOS's popularity has contributed a lot to this). I'm a firm believer that the cloud, instant messaging, and mobile devices have not killed e-mail any more than tablets have killed PCs. E-mail's role has just evolved and developed. It's still indispensable to enterprise users and still useful for formal communication. With the changing of e-mail's role in computers today, e-mail clients such as Sylpheed may take a backseat to the browser, but intelligent users will always find a place for it in their rapidly growing and changing tech arsenal.
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