Elliot at Home by Six has written an excellent review of the various strengths and weaknesses of Mail.app compared to Gmail.

He scores them both in categories of spam filtering, ease of use, interface, access, import/export features, power potential, stability, security, integration and more.

In the end he decides that it’s a draw. Both are winners:

My final solution, and one I plan to continue using for the next year or so, incorporates all the best parts of both programs. I love the Gmail junk filtering and “never delete” concept, but I also love the tangible feel, customizability, and snappy interface of Mail.app.

Now, all of my email addresses forward to my Gmail account, so they can be spam-filtered and archived. Then I use Mail.app to check my Gmail account via POP. This way, I don’t have to keep Mail.app open all the time, because the Gmail Notifier lights up when I’ve got something new. I also have the benefit of being able to use multiple hierarchical mailboxes, while still maintaining Gmail’s flat storage as a backup. Score!

gmail, Google, mail.app, apple mail, email, review

In a recent MacNotables podcast, Adam Engst (TidBITS publisher), Andy Ihnatko, Dan Frakes, and Chuck Joiner discuss what they like and don’t like about their current and past email clients.

They discuss Eudora, Mail, Entourage, PowerMail, Mailsmith, Gmail, and even Elm.

The promo on the podcast’s web page reads:

Think that the choice of email clients is easy? Think again. The MacNotables ride into town on their favorite email clients and you’ll be surprised at what programs get the nod and why. Should you use the free option? Pay for a stand alone program? Use part of a productivity suite? Switch to web mail? There are no obvious answers but the panel gives you some things to consider and talk about where they would like to see email go in this bonus-length session.

The MacNotables podcast, I read on its web site , is “the podcasting home to some of the Macintosh industry’s best known and most visible personalities”.

Have a listen .

It was interesting to hear of plans to rewrite Eudora completely from the ground up. Too late, methinks, although not everyone will agree.mail.app, apple mail, Eudora, mailsmith, entourage, powermail, gmail, email, review