offline CLI email

[James Freer]

On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 11:12 AM, James Freer <jessejazza3.uk at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 7:59 AM, Patrick Asselman <iceblink at seti.nl> wrote:
>> On 2013-09-08 16:02, thufir wrote:
>>>
>>> I recently (re-)discovered alpine, formerly alpine, soon to change its
>>> name again(?).  Interestingly, it'll now be under some sort of open
>>> source license.
>>>
>>> Anyhow.
>>>
>>> I never got into emacs, the macros just weren't for me.  I like pine, but
>>> offline IMAP is a bit of a hassle, with some python script.  What are
>>> some good alternatives?  I've looked at the wikipedia on MUA comparison.
>>> Elm looks interesting.
>>>
>>> Any particular recommendations?
>>>
>>>
>>> -Thufir
>>
>>
>> Which is best depends on your usage of course.
>>
>> Back in the days, I started with Elm, then went to Pine, and ended up using
>> Mutt.
>> Don't ask me why, I really cannot remember :-) But I'm sure some googling
>> will tell you the differences.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Patrick
>
> I'd agree with Patrick when he says a lot depends on your usage... and
> the linux etiquette 'all about choice'. Like you I found offline imap
> a hassle too.
>
> I found TB and Evolution too slow. Stayed with the gmail UI for
> several years. Now google have modified the editing window I have
> still used the web UI for this list for the benefit of
> conversations... but used Firefox with the addon Gmelius which makes
> it pleasantly usable (I did use Chrome but stopped a few weeks ago).
>
> As for an email client I found Mutt more suited to the IT geek who
> wants a configurable app... it's a bit of a pig to configure (for me
> anyway but I got it going but after spending a lot of time it wasn't
> to my liking). Alpine I have found just perfect - well tried and
> proven, maintained although could be improved but it is a corporate
> email client which to me is very much in it's favour... has a few odd
> quirks. BUT most important with text based email clients is THE SPEED.
> Rocket power compared with a GUI! I prefer the text based interface
> but it is not to everyone's liking.
>
> Only GUI client I found worth considering that is fast enough is Claws
> (also has a 'cousin' Sylpheed which is similar) , used the MH for the
> mail directory which I think is better than mbox. But still not my
> choice compared with Alpine. There is Balsa but I wasn't keen on it.
>
> For linux Alpine is perfect. When one installs the new release every
> six months - with Alpine I just copy across the .pinerc and the
> addressbook and that is it after the install. I set Alpine up to read
> the gmail server directly rather than downloading headers which I
> think is the best way to have it (but that's on gmail). I haven't
> touched the .pinerc for about two years. Everything is there for my
> multiple email accounts. It is very easy to set up but I have made a
> help sheet if you would like a copy - some of the alpine setup is a
> bit odd.
>
> If you just want something straight forward and trouble free I'd go
> for Alpine, if you want to customise then Mutt would be to your liking
> I'd have thought. There is quite a lot of customising one can do with
> Alpine but I haven't looked into it - excellent help to look up with
> Alpine.
>
> james

Forgot to mention there are three email clients that you can use with
Emacs if you are a user. i didn't find them easy to set up though and
gave up. Many folk use Emacs as the editor for Alpine which works
quite well I gather.

james