@Mail or RoundCube?

[IT_Architect]

I've used NutsMail! in the past with DA. It works great. However, I'm evaluating alternatives today. I've never used @Mail open source and have only a little experience with RoundCube.

Thoughts:
- Both claim to be AJAX with a friendly interface
- Today the trend is moving toward mobile devices.
- Needs to be solid
- RoundCube development has been glacial in pace while @Mail has designs on your wallet.
- Wondering if either of these are easily skinnable.
- I don't see any of them that allow you to create html mail.

Which would you install today and why?

Thanks!

 

[scsi]

Install both then your users will not have to be stuck to one. They both are good.

 

[IT_Architect]

Install both then your users will not have to be stuck to one. They both are good.

They are getting one. I don't want to deal with the incompatibilities and issues stemming from differences in proprietary features.

I put together an analysis of what DirectAdmin offers. Let me know where you disagree:

- Uebimiau has arguably the nicest and most functional interface. However, it hasn't seen a developer since 2001, and thus a risky choice. You would also need to patch the code for 64 bit machines. http://help.directadmin.com/item.php?id=133 It has the same vulnerability that RoundCube just fixed except it will never be fixed.

- SquirrelMail is very actively maintained, but hard to look at in standard form. It's one of the defaults for DirectAdmin installs. It appears to be the most secure and gives the least trouble. There is a skinned SquirrelMail templates available called NutsMail! that is nicer than any of the other options listed here, but it's $67/server. It also includes calendars etc. and is very configurable.

- RoundCube is an Ajax-based client. It is actively maintained but development has been steady but very slow. It uses MySQL for its address book in exchange for not needed its proprietary directories scattered about the disk. It's one of the defaults for DirectAdmin. Requires PHP 5. It recently had a serious vulnerability but was fixed.

- @Mail Is another AJAX based client. It is very actively maintained. Better known is its commercial based server product which is very capable. However, they also now have an open source version that can be installed by DirectAdmin. Their sales pitch is, "Users also can jump from the free client to the commercial version, which adds calendaring, and a groupware and antivirus module." Thus, they will walk a fine line between what they will allow for free. It's expensive for a few users and very inexpensive for a lot of users. I've not used it personally. There is a DirectAdmin discussion here: http://www.directadmin.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1662507, http://www.directadmin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26994&highlight=AtMail, and other posts. Apparently it violates standards and thus doesn't play well with othe IMAP clients. Hopefully there is gain to pay for the pain. It's also available from the FreeBSD ports tree.

Thanks

 

[nobaloney]

Apparently it violates standards and thus doesn't play well with othe IMAP clients. Hopefully there is gain to pay for the pain. It's also available from the FreeBSD ports tree.

Then you must remember that if you use it you'll have support issues with clients who want to use IMAP on their desktops.

Jeff

 

[IT_Architect]

Then you must remember that if you use it you'll have support issues with clients who want to use IMAP on their desktops.
Jeff

I'm with you Jeff. Here is how things are gelling for me. Uebimiau has the same flaw that RoundCube just fixed, except it will never be fixed. With RoundCube, when I have a MySQL problem, now have two problems, and their development pace makes me skeptical of its long-term viability. @Mail has the look and the feel and no MySQL requirement, but it proprietary nature and other problems makes it a support problem. SquirrelMail is as ugly as it gets, but when it's in, there is no support. If I want a cute Squirrel with very nice features I can pay $70 for NutsMail! That's cheaper than support.

 

[nobaloney]

If I recall correctlly at one time there was a problem with NutsMail not working properly with either virtual email logins, or username email logins; I don't remember which.

Can anyone report anything on this?

Thanks.

Jeff

 

[IT_Architect]

If I recall correctlly at one time there was a problem with NutsMail not working properly with either virtual email logins, or username email logins; I don't remember which. Can anyone report anything on this?
Thanks.
Jeff

It's what I've used for 3 years for hosters. NutsMail! stays lock-step with SquirrelMail releases and its plugins because it is skinned SquirrelMail. The only time they are different is when Squirrel hasn't released something yet. Nuts! doesn't do pre-release. I begged one time when php5 came out but it didn't do any good. I ran the 4 version anyway, and didn't experience significant problems running it so I didn't upgrade later either. Squirrel + its plugins can give you everything Nuts! has, it's just hard to look at. I use Blue Hive. It's the prettiest webmail I've ever seen. People like it a little too well which translates in lost disk space. An Ajax alternative sounds appealing, but not if it isn't going to be rock solid like SquirrelMail/NutsMail!. Neither @Mail nor RoundCube have convinced me at this point that they are a viable Ajax alternative.