# Drag me into the modern computing paradigm... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390 "2014-03-10T22:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/1 "2014-03-10T22:58:07Z")
…or does anybody make a simple e-mail client anymore? I’m reasonably savvy on how technology works, but not on its trends and culture. I was perfectly content with an old PC; simple e-mail and browser. Until it died. Could have probably fixed it (I think it’s the motherboard), but it’s not worth the trouble. Got a good deal on a new desktop.[sup]\*[/sup] The new desktop has Windows 8 on it. I’m curious, wanted to check it out; and I figured I could find a way to make it do all the things I wanted. However, it seems to not just want access to online sources of info, but to require online accounts to let me do some things. When I even try to run the built-in e-mail client (do we even call things clients anymore?) it prompts for a Microsoft account and won’t let me just configure and read from my existing e-mail accounts without it. And that may be a good thing. I’m planning to get a smart phone this spring. I can see the value in having access to my full e-mail inbox and address book from multiple devices. I’m just not sure I want it all to be tied in to Microsoft. I’m sure they’re not the only cross-device, synchronized e-mail/calendar/productivity/whatever application in the world. And if I have to adopt and adapt to something new, it might as well be something I like. - Yes, I still want to have a desktop PC. **TL, DR:** Educate me on the modern tech landscape. What applications do you all use that really provide something of value, where do you find them, and whose opinions do you trust? ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/2 "2014-03-10T23:23:27Z")
About the Windows live account, read [this](http://blogs.technet.com/b/pauljones/archive/2013/10/07/windows-8-1-mail-app-without-microsoft-account.aspx). Slee ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/3 "2014-03-10T23:44:20Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > About the Windows live account, read [this](http://blogs.technet.com/b/pauljones/archive/2013/10/07/windows-8-1-mail-app-without-microsoft-account.aspx). 1. Thank you. 2. I can’t even find “Computer Configuration” yet. 3. THAT’S the way to get a simplified client? Yikes. 4. I’m not dead set on a bare-bones, local e-mail client. I can see the advantages of syncing across devices, if I can find software that does it well. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/4 "2014-03-11T00:50:42Z")
If you want a decent local client (and you don’t have microsoft outlook), just download thunderbird ([Thunderbird — Make Email Easier. — Thunderbird](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/)) and ignore the default options that windows comes with. Similarly download VLC and ignore the built in video player ([Official download of VLC media player, the best Open Source player - VideoLAN](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html)), and download firefox and ignore the default browser ([Internet for people, not profit — Mozilla (US)](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/)). If you don’t have antivirus, download something like Avast ([Welcome Avast Free Antivirus users - CNET Download](http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?part=dl-85737&subj=dl&tag=button)). Edit to add, I don’t download all that crap individually though, go to: [https://ninite.com/](https://ninite.com/) and check the boxes for stuff you want and use that to install, it will do it all at once. On that list i recommend Chrome, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC, all the “Runtimes”, GIMP, Libreoffice (_NOT_ openoffice - and regular microsoft office is a demo). Avast or Avira (but not both), Malwarebytes, Keepass 2, Dropbox, 7-zip, Notepad++ ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/5 "2014-03-11T01:14:39Z")
I use Seamonkey as the simplest client possible ( ignoring those weird old things like Pine ), I see it has a **[Windows](http://www.seamonkey-project.org/)** version. Setting it up to use POP was easy, which is becoming uncommon as clients seem to prefer IMAP ( which Seamonkey can do of course ). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/6 "2014-03-11T01:44:47Z")
I still use [Eudora](http://www.eudora.com/archive.html). I hearts it. Nothing has been able to beat it as the right app for checking my dozens of email accounts and keeping them like I want them. Thunderbird seemed flummoxed by the multiple accounts, and both TB and OE had this annoying habit of opening everything up in new windows. YUCK! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/7 "2014-03-11T03:51:02Z")
I use Windows Live, which is the bastard offspring of Outlook Express, and is virtually identical to it. I resisted it, but the Dope told me it would be fine, and it is. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/8 "2014-03-11T04:19:49Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > If you want a decent local client (and you don’t have microsoft outlook), just download thunderbird ([Thunderbird — Free Your Inbox. — Thunderbird](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/)) and ignore the default options that windows comes with. Similarly download VLC and ignore the built in video player ([Official download of VLC media player, the best Open Source player - VideoLAN](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html)), and download firefox and ignore the default browser ([Mozilla - Internet for people, not profit (US)](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/)). If you don’t have antivirus, download something like Avast ([Avast Free Antivirus for Windows - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download](http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?part=dl-85737&subj=dl&tag=button)). I’d suggest Media Player Classic (perhaps as part of the K-Lite Codec Pack) instead of VLC. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/9 "2014-03-11T04:21:58Z")
I appreciate all the replies so far, but I’m curious about things beyond just e-mail. What sort of applications are you all using these days that are well-designed and actually useful, and where do you find them? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/10 "2014-03-11T04:44:59Z")
Dragging you (kicking and screaming) into the modern computing paradigm: 1970’s: You vill learn Structured Programming, und you vill learn to like it. Nowadays: You vill learn Object Oriented Programming, und you vill learn to like it. ETA: From the OP: > [@](#): > > The new desktop has Windows 8 on it. I’m curious, wanted to check it out; and I figured I could find a way to make it do all the things I wanted. You vill learn to use Windows 8, but is possible you vill _never_ learn to like it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/11 "2014-03-11T06:48:16Z")
I still don’t like OOP. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/12 "2014-03-11T06:55:52Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I still use [Eudora](http://www.eudora.com/archive.html). I hearts it. We may be the last two people who persist in using it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/13 "2014-03-11T19:44:22Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > We may be the last two people who persist in using it. Last three! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drag-me-into-the-modern-computing-paradigm/683390/14 "2014-03-11T23:57:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I still use [Eudora](http://www.eudora.com/archive.html). I hearts it. > > Nothing has been able to beat it as the right app for checking my dozens of email accounts and keeping them like I want them. Thunderbird seemed flummoxed by the multiple accounts, and both TB and OE had this annoying habit of opening everything up in new windows. YUCK! ^^^^ Likewise for this Mac user. It’s more difficult for us (Eudora being a PowerPC appliction when last updated) but if and when I get dragged kicking & screaming into a version of the OS that doesn’t have Rosetta, I’ll have virtual machines that still do.