John Fried

Qualcomm Eudora 6.2

Inexpensive and easy to manage, but with some growing pains.

 

What It Is

This tried-and-true client software began as a freeware product in 1988 and still has more than 15 million users worldwide, including NASA and Harvard.

Cost

Three versions: Paid mode has SpamWatch, tech support, no ads ($49.95, or less depending on company size); Sponsored mode has ads and doesn't have SpamWatch (free); Light mode has fewer features (also free).

Features

An integrated search function that lets you click on a word to Google it. Drag-and-drop attachments from e-mail directly to the desktop. Can also track your e-mail usage so you can see when you spend most of your time messaging.

Security

Includes SpamWatch, Eudora's powerful spam filtering tool, and ScamWatch, a new tool designed to warn you of phishing scams. Also features MoodWatch, which alerts users to inappropriate language.

Pros

It's cheap and does the basics. For organizations without huge IT staffs or budgets to run Exchange or Domino servers, Eudora makes a lot of sense. Plus, it's named after writer Eudora Welty, which is pretty cool.

Cons

While it does offer some file-sharing capabilities, it's not the time- and task-management system some organizations need. Eudora doesn't scale well, so it's not a great choice for companies expecting to grow rapidly.