OT: Email client for dopey old codger

[Cursitor Doom]

Gentleman,

I chum of mine is not at all technically competent with computers. He is really struggling with Microsoft Mail. I have no idea if that's a decent mail program or not as I've been a Linux only user for very many years now. Consequently, I'm also unaware of what possible better Windows mail clients are out there that are suitable for dopey old codgers. He's very tight-fisted, so it'll need to be free unless it's something truly special. We are looking for something simple to use, as intuitive as possible, and daft old codger proof. Any suggestions?

CD

[Tim Streater]

This is free:

[charles]

I use Thunderbird, but I'm only an old codger, hopefully not daft - yet.

[Andrew]

Book of stamps and writing pad with envelopes. Generally fool-proof.

[GB]

Sadly, many of the clients simply have too many features. MIL would click pretty randomly, and for example swap the date ordering of the emails, so the newest ones were at the bottom of the list, so they were 'gone'.

You want something with as few features as possible, really.

[Rod Speed]

Not really, most do need some sort of search in the old emails.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Well thunderbird is the nor,al one

I miss good old Eudora. Just enough bells and whistles and not a single one that wasn't useful

[Mark]

what about an online mail client like

[David Wade]

I suspect he yearns for Outlook Express.

might work. I think the free version works for most folks.

Dave

[Jeff Gaines]

OP didn't appear via NIN so replying here.

I use eM Client:

It's free for two accounts, more than that you have to pay. It is very good at setting up accounts automatically, even those for your own domains.

[Brian Gaff]

And then he can watch the Shawn the sheep videos by scanning in the codes on the stamps.. ahem. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

Unfortunately, there is a whole suite of software as an overlay to windows completely, you can even control it by voice and have it read stuff to you, but its not cheap or for that matter very useful if you still need to access windows. its called Dolphin Guide Connect, but is over 300 quid, as basically its a mini operating system and apps in itself. Brian

[John Rumm]

Might be worth asking what type of email account he has. For example if he is using and exchange mailbox (MS 365 etc) then the web based version of outlook is fairly competent.

You can also using the online gmail client to access other mailboxes, and that is a fairly "simple" interface.

[mechanic]

Put Windows up in a VM and show the d.o.c. some options, no install of the mail on their machine needed yet. Or try various options on a phone to give some pointers to a suitable client. Possibly sticking with a browser based solution keeps things simple, and secure at the same time. What is the need for email that FB (and other social media) doesn't provide?

[Tim+]

An iPad.

Tim

[GB]

One of the issues MIL had was with using a mouse. In retrospect, she might have got on much better with a touch screen device.

[Colin Bignell]

Also, remarkably expensive these days.

[wasbit]

Thanks, I hadn't heard of iletter.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I doubt it, my elderly friends phone calls to me are constantly interrupted by dial tones or simple accidental hang-ups as his face touches his Apple MeMe phone

A mouse is bad enough - touch screens are even worse.

>

[Andrew]

if he lives close to his local library, and it has free computers (West Sussex CC does) and staff prepared to help, then that should be his first port of call. There should also be loads of books with titles like "Ipad for seniors", "Windows XX for seniors" etc