What is the future for Thunderbird?

[filbert]

I have seen reports that Mozilla is dropping Thunderbird and hoping that 'the community' will take on its development. Opinion seems divided as to whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not sure whether forks such as Fossamail will have as many resources behind them as Thunderbird would have, if it is cast loose.

I have tried a range of email clients and still drift back to Thunderbird for the ease of using multiple accounts, range of add-ons and cross platform support (Mac and Windows, mostly but occasional Linux as well).

What do others think about the prospects for Thunderbird?

[Dutchie007]

I also use TB....and I think it's a great email client and I'm very pleased with it. However...if there not coming anymore updates I am afraid the project sooner or later will die.(which is logical I think)
Maybe not this year...but maybe next year or in 2018...imho.

Pleasd keep TB alive!!

Dutchie.

[jeffpan]

other than thunderbird, outlook, I also use Airmail on Mac.

[Berenburger]

You're only polling desktop applications. One of the reason of dropping TB, etc., imo, is caused by the (native) Mail apps of W10, Android and IOS.

[LinuxArie]

I use Thunderbird on my laptop / desktop, on Android I use AquaMail and K-@mail. On Android it's mostly only reading.
I sure hope that Thunderbird will stay, to me it's the best there is

[SethM]

Originally Posted by Berenburger

You're only polling desktop applications. One of the reason of dropping TB, etc., imo, is caused by the (native) Mail apps of W10, Android and IOS.

I primarily use a Mac and honestly if Apple's Mail client supported real threading like tbird does I would probably just use it by default. I get a lot of hangs/crashes with tbird that are annoying. Not that I've tried hard (at all) to find an alternative desktop client.

[filbert]

Originally Posted by Berenburger

You're only polling desktop applications. One of the reason of dropping TB, etc., imo, is caused by the (native) Mail apps of W10, Android and IOS.

I'm polling desktop apps because the thread is about the future of Thunderbird. Personally, I use mobile devices for reading email but rarely for writing as I dislike the small screen size and on-screen keyboards. I can't see a time when mobile devices will displace desktop apps for me.

[janusz]

Originally Posted by filbert

I can't see a time when mobile devices will displace desktop apps for me.

Hear, hear....

[FredOnline]

Originally Posted by filbert

What is the future for Thunderbird?

Keep making it, I'll keep drinking it.

[chrisretusn]

I don't use Thunderbird. I use Claws Mail.

That said, I doubt Thunderbird will go a way and time soon.

I tried using Apps for email on my cell phone. They are cumbersome to use, in particular text entry. I do not need constant access to my emails. in fact I don't want constant access. Really got tired of those pesky notifications that I have new emails. Give me my desktop with a real keyboard any day. I check email maybe once a day.

[Eireannach]

Originally Posted by chrisretusn

.......I tried using Apps for email on my cell phone. They are cumbersome to use, in particular text entry. I do not need constant access to my emails. in fact I don't want constant access. Really got tire of those pesky notifications that I have new emails. Give me my desktop with a real keyboard any day. I check email maybe once a day.

I agree about mobile devices - can't understand that anybody would use them for their main way of replying to email or browsing the Internet . Screens are far too small ( perhaps with the exception of iPad/tablets) . Me thinks "the Emperor has no clothes".

Personally seriously thinking about going back to so called feature phone .

[EricG]

You've got to be kidding! You left out the bundled Mail app of OS X and Win 10, along with Win Live Mail.

[filbert]

Originally Posted by EricG

You've got to be kidding! You left out the bundled Mail app of OS X and Win 10, along with Win Live Mail.

Well, I could only have 10 in the poll and, personally, I need a cross platform client as I use Mac, Windows and Linux, so I prefer a client that I can use on all systems.

I have to confess that I tend to dismiss manufacturers bundled apps as I have never found them that good. Having said that, I haven't tried the Apple Mail or the one in Win 10. I've only used Outlook as there was no choice on my work PC. Will be interesting to see what others say...

[Bob D]

Originally Posted by chrisretusn

I don't use Thunderbird. I use Claws Mail.
That said, I doubt Thunderbird will go a way and time soon.

Claws Mail here as well.

[pjwalsh]

Claws is awesome, highly configureable and very Linux-y, but lacks IMAP IDLE support.