Do You Check Email Online or Use A Desktop Client? [Poll]

email-sign.png Everyone has an email address these days. Most of us spend more time dealing with emails then on any other website. So the poll question for today is How Do You Check Your Email? Do you check it online or do you use a desktop client such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird?

Since most MakeUseOf readers are likely to have tried different email programs and desktop clients the resuts should be rather interesting. So make sure to vote!

Why do you prefer checking your email online or on the desktop ? Let us know in the comments.

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Aibek Esengulov

The guy behind MakeUseOf.com. Follow him and MakeUseOf on Twitter @MakeUseOf. For more details check out MakeUseOf about page.

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  • http://www.howardgrigg.co.nz Howard Grigg

    I have used Gmail since it was 1st released (almost), during that time I have used many desktop clients (Outlook, Mail.app and Thunderbird) but have always come back to just having it always open in a tab. A couple of months ago I installed the ff extension GTDInbox for Gmail and really recommend it.

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      In my case, I was always coming back to Thunderbird. The Gmail interface is surely great but I still think I can do things faster in Thunderbird.

  • http://homefries.org Kenneth

    I check my gmail online and on a blackberry.
    I check my personal email in Appple Mail, blackberry, and online.
    I check my work email in Entourage and online.

  • http://www.greasypigstudios.com Arvin Bautista

    I use Google Apps for email, and keep gmail handy in my browser, but when I rely on email for work a lot, Thunderbird running IMAP just keeps me connected so much quicker.

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      Good setup, I need to try that as well.

  • Sharon D

    I use Windows Live mail and Pop Peeper at home.
    Because I’m lazy.

  • http://www.mybunchies.com Thinh Vu

    Gmail is the only email client I need to check my email. The Firefox plugins Gmail Manager and Better Gmail 2 makes checking Gmail in my web browser a wonderful delight with all sorts of customizations. Gmail is also the best free email provider there is and I absolutely love it.

  • Elliot

    I, too, have tried everything. Above all, between work and home, home and traveling, iPhone and computer, I always find that the most important aspect of any email “system” is the ability to have – from anywhere – access to identical information.

    By far, the worst method I have been forced to use (and continue sometimes to have to use) is Miscrosoft Outlook webmail. Why is it sooo feature-poor?

  • http://www.speak-tome.com Ted Murphy

    Well, I use both Outlook and web interfaces. I have 4 important email addresses, and sometimes I need to use different From addresses. These are not simply changed via the interface, as many programs (ie aol, yahoo) look beyond the from field to sent field (probably got that wrong – anyway, some client programs don’t let you easily spoof your from adress). Whatever. Its late. I use a few email interfaces, several computers, 4 addresses, and whatever gets the job done.

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      Yeah, if you have multiple emails that you use on a regular basis then email client is the way to go.

  • http://ubuntulinuxtipstricks.blogspot.com Mackenzie Morgan

    I use Evolution. Since MUO and my school both use GMail-for-Domains, and since remembering logins gets a big F’d when you have >=2 GMails, I switched to having a mail client.

  • gabe565

    I’ve used Gmail way back in the invite times!
    I love it, I haven’t even thought about Thunderbird since I’ve had it!

  • http://www.chernow.org/blog Adam

    I used to use GMail (since the invite only days), but found it a bit lacking. Then they added IMAP. Which is nice, but their implementation is lacking. I currently use Fastmail for my e-mail host, but am considering moving it to my own VPS.

    Thunderbird has been my desktop e-mail client since the pre-1.0 days. Well, except for at work where I’m forced to use Outlook.

    -Adam

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      Good, we are going to run an article on Thunderbird Addons very soon. Stay tuned!

  • Wayne

    I use Gmail. I can access it from anywhere with a web connection – even on my phone, and I dont have to worry about backing up my outlook pst file regularly, or when I reinstall my operating system from time to time.

  • Lee

    I use Outlook to check my Gmail and I have a google desktop gadget that check my mail without having outlook open. This gadget shows you when you have new mail and you can just click the icon to open your browser to veiw your mail. here is the link http://www.desktop-gadgets.net/gmailicon/

  • munkypiny

    Gmail in a browser. I use thunderbird when I need to do mass mailings, haven’t found any other solution to do this if not would stick to browser based email all the time.

  • http://bordertop.com/findividuals Zhuoshi

    I used to check my email using Gmail, online, but that was back when I had to use a Windows/Linux machine. Now that I have a mac, I use Mail.app. In fact, I’m bringing everything offline now that I have a mac.

  • http://www.willchatham.com Will

    How about an “All Three” option? I have about 6 POP3 accounts I use Thunderbird with, then I have 2 Gmail accounts. I also check a combination of them with my Sidekick. So, I’m mobile, web-based, and desktop-based.

  • MomTrim

    I use GMail, online. I have it pull all my other email addresses to land in one inbox and Outlook at work.

  • http://www.twitter.com/jetterz jetterz

    I’ve been a huge Gmail fan since their 1 Gig invite days. Right now, I have Gmail installed on my Quick Launch bar, with the help of the Chrome’s application shortcut feature.

  • CYinVT

    A little bit of everything….
    Firefox / IGoogle widget for my Gmail
    Firefox for Yahoo mail
    Thunderbird for my home POP accounts
    Outlook at work for my corporate accounts

  • Manjunath

    I use around 30 email ids all are active i configured it to my

    thunderbird-1account
    outlook express -2 account
    outlook-2accounts
    foxmail-25 accounts

    Sounds crazy ha? it is true :)

    btw how many email ids you use?

    • http://makeuseof.com Aibek

      I have 5 IDs, 3 of them I use regularly, the other two are for IM accounts (Yahoo and Hotmail :-) ).

  • http://www.tophotdeal.com/search-discount-coupons/ ciscopower

    I use gmail, because of its search functionality. It’s so useful for me. I always forget the email content, but I can search some keywords to get them back from tons of emails.

    I love gmail.

  • RanMan

    I use Thunderbird configured to retrieve all my web based email accounts and POP accounts. Right now about 12 accounts from various providers all streamlined into Thunderbird. I just find it easier with all the available extensions and nice compatibility with Gmail.

  • usaeagle

    Am I the only one using Eudora? Have been using it since 5.xx and still love it. For hotmail and yahoo email I use digsby.