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Supported email software

IMPORTANT: To configure any of these clients for your Yale email account, go to our email configuration page.

Questions or concerns regarding this information may be addressed to helpdesk@yale.edu.

Apple Mail

Apple Mail is the email client bundled with Max OS X on Macintosh computers. It is an advanced IMAP and POP email application, which integrates well with Mac OS X and other Mac applicatioans. Among its useful features are the ability to use Applescript to write rules to manage email, including handling spam. Support for Apple Mail, as well as other Macintosh applications is evolving and expanding.

Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a recent member of the Mozilla family of programs which include the Mozilla browser and email suite, the Firefox browser, and different flavors of Netscape. It is an advanced IMAP and POP email application, favored by those who value speed, functionality, and portability over a pretty shell. Among the the more pleasant features of Thunderbird are that its menus and screens are essentially the same on Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms. Although it is an advanced program with many features, Thunderbird is easy to install and configure. It is very popular with students, faculty, and staff who want a program that works reliably on just about any personal or lab machine. Thunderbird is available from the Software Library.

MS Outlook and Entourage

The MS Outlook email application is recommended on the Windows platform.  Outlook comes bundled with the Microsoft Office software suite (2003 or 2007).  For the Macintosh platform, Entourage (2004 or 2008) is recommended.  Entourage comes bundled with Microsoft Office for Mac OS X.  These programs can be set up as POP or IMAP applications for use with the  YaleMail service or can be configured for use with the YaleConnect email and calendaring service.

Webmail

Webmail can be convenient for travelers who are away from their own computers temporarily, at airports, rail stations, or Internet cafes. It can also be convenient for students at kiosks and libraries. It is not recommended as a person's primary email program.

(guide to using webmail)

Pine

Email software on the Pantheon UNIX shell servers is called Pine. While being text based, the Pine software has many configurable features and is much faster than webmail since it has no graphics to deal with. However, attachment processing can be a bit cumbersome. Pine is available by logging into the Pantheon UNIX servers via SSH from anywhere at Yale and on the Internet.

Best for: users that want raw speed, understand UNIX or Linux, and can set up secure sessions by Using the Terminal. Pine is also helpful when moving email or preparing to archive and convert email.

(Pine Help)

Learn more about Pine from its creators at the University of Washington.