First look: Postbox 2
updated 08:55 pm EDT, Wed September 29, 2010
New features emphasize efficiency, management
Postbox ($40), an alternative e-mail client for Mac and Windows, has reached version 2.0 and sports a variety of new and improved features to increase users' productivity. The Mozilla-based client differentiates itself from Apple's Mail by offering support for add-ons, anti-phishing and malware protection, different views for smaller screens, tabs, built-in archiving and complex searching among other features.
New in Postbox 2 is support for unified folders and account groups; quick move, quick reply and quick folder-switch options; a new to-do view and Focus Pane to help organize; and a Compact Header Mode that focuses on one message at a time for users of netbooks and small laptops.
Improvements from the previous version include easier setup and search; a "conversation" view that expands upon the idea of Mail's "threaded" view; better signature support and to-do tagging, along with additional keyboard shortcuts for those who prefer to avoid mousing through email.
In addition, support for non-English languages such as German, French, Spanish, British English, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, and Swedish is being rolled out.
Postbox 2 is available now from their web site. There is a 30-day trial version as well as a 30-day post-purchase guarantee. Upgrades from version 1.x are $20. Family packs and student discounts, along with a free lighter version, Postbox Express, are also available.
