Our little ’bird is all grown up
When I started using Thunderbird, I must admit that I had to force myself. Stephen Horlander and I were creating the Pinstripe theme and I was happily using Apple’s Mail program. A year ago Thunderbird felt unfinished (I can hear you say “duh”), but I needed that dogfood taste to inform the design of Pinstripe.
At first I found it hard to get around the “Netscape Messenger 4” feel of Thunderbird. I wish that the UI had been burnt down and redesigned from the ground up as Firefox was. There seem to be many opportunities for simplification in the menus, preferences and settings windows. Perhaps this is coming.
Recently a raft of really useful features have been added like saved search folders (aka virtual folders), RSS feed reading, and message grouping. As we approach Thunderbird 1.0, despite the “legacy” feel of the UI, I find myself really liking Thunderbird instead of merely tolerating it.
Apologies to Scott MacGregor, but this is meant as a sincere compliment 🙂
Comments
Neil on 2004-11-29 13:00:40
The number one feature that would get way more people on board (myself included) is Apple Address book support. With so many applications taking advantage of the address book, it's difficult to make the switch to Thunderbird without some kind of support.
Even a straightforward method of importing and exporting data between the TB address book and Apple's would be welcome. Right now, the import mechanism in Thunderbird, to be frank, sucks.
Carping aside, though, I agree! Thunderbird has come a very long way from its roots, thanks to the effort of people like you and Stephen.
Steven Garrity on 2004-11-29 13:08:48
We're patiently waiting for Winstripe for Thunderbird too...
stonedyak on 2004-11-29 13:25:12
I totally agree with you about the UI. Thunderbird isn't to MailNews what Firefox is to the Suite's browser. I think the problem is that an email client needs so much more UI than a web browser does, and has a much more complex featureset that needs to be presented to the user.
A lot of time and effort would be needed to streamline/simplify Thunderbird's UI, probably more than was needed for Firefox. Maybe it should be an aim for version 2.0?
That said, I use Thunderbird, I love it and it rocks!
Prognathous on 2004-11-29 14:49:28
Just like the Suite a few years back, there's one feature that would make Thunderbird shine over the competition: Tabs
See https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=218999
Prog.
Reinier on 2004-11-29 15:15:49
I must agree with Neil, at least talking to the Apple AB is a must.
Jon Hicks on 2004-11-29 17:05:33
Support for the Address Book is coming apparently.
The thing I love about Thunderbird, is the 'vertical view' layout. I wish mail.app could do that. Its the one feature that has tempted me over - that and the superb UI refinement that you've done of course ;o).
Chris McElligott on 2004-11-29 18:02:20
I'd consider it myself if Address Book support was avaliable. Because the current address book is pretty weak.
Cheers to you Kevin for making it look not look so out of place with Pinstipe.
WC Leung on 2004-11-29 22:20:12
I second that we are patiently waiting for the Winstripe theme for Thunderbird.
Matt on 2004-11-29 23:58:01
I've always thought that the division of settings between "Options" and "Account Settings" felt really arbitrary. Why is "Composition" of "Composition and Addressing" in Account Settings--and not in Options, where "Composition" is?
rjw on 2004-11-30 05:02:50
If support for the Apple address book is coming, I hope it is a generic mechanism that would allow support of evolution-data-server or KResources too.. .. for both contacts and calendar stuff (Sunbird).
This will eventually be needed to fit into Gnome or KDE.
Chris on 2004-12-01 02:45:50
Hi!
I'd like to point you to this MozillaZine-Thread, which is my favorite thread ATM, for it is very productive:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=127860
@Kevin and Stephen: Aren't you willing to team up with these guys? Probably there is an option for TB-Winstripe for the 1.0 release... Many users would love you for this...!
Cheers, Chris
Thomas on 2004-12-02 06:17:07
Yes, a pinstripe theme for Thunderbird is really needed!! Any plans or news on that?
Kevin on 2004-12-02 07:16:20
Qute is the default theme for Thunderbird 1.0. I don't think I'll consider a Winstripe theme until after 1.0 ships.
Stephen Horlander on 2004-12-02 09:32:03
Why not? I mean get with it! I am already finished with mine.
Kevin on 2004-12-02 10:28:24
My failure to plan for Winstripe Thunderbird has to do with a clear lack of cookies. Digestives with chocolate would work. As would Pepperidge Farm Sausalitos. Email for mailing address.
Thomas on 2004-12-02 20:12:12
That's sad news...! I thought it is planned to have Firefox, Thunderbird and maybe Sunbird have a similar look! At least some common symbols (in the settings e.g.) could be transfered to Thunderbird, because it's stupid getting used to new symbols, standing for the same options and sitting in the "similar" prefs window.
Laurens Holst on 2004-12-03 19:30:36
Thomas: do you not get a hint even when it's smashed right into your face!? Start preparing a package for the man now! Then Winstripe will be here soon!
~Grauw
kwyjibo on 2004-12-07 10:31:04
I am severely let down. I thought Winstripe was going to be the default Thunderbird 1.0 theme. It was promised. :(
This mutated Qute theme looks bad. It doesn't match Firefox. Save us!
Kevin on 2004-12-07 12:56:44
I think the recent changes to Qute are very good. It is a quality theme that's been polished over the past year. I'm sure most Thunderbird 1.0 users will not feel let down by it.
kwyjibo on 2004-12-07 14:00:23
No, it's crap. Please make Winstripe.