When mail arrives, the system tray utility not only informs you that there is new mail (as in previous versions) but also lists the first several e-mails. For instance, the icon that lets you flag your e-mail messages is now a gold star, which is much more visible than the small red flag in the older version. Mozilla has updated the toolbar, brightened and changed the icons, and made the interface generally more pleasant and readable. There is a distinct difference in the look and feel of the application. My Thunderbird 1.5 extensions and themes didn't have version 2.0 equivalents, but that's to be expected when the beta was only recently released.

The install found all my mail, folders, and settings and imported them seamlessly into the new version without prompting.

I downloaded the installation program and installed without an issue. Thunderbird 2.0 Beta 1 boasts a new look, including redesigned toolbar icons. Mozilla also has made some welcome changes without breaking anything in the process, but there are features that could still use some work. The spam filter still catches most spam before it clogs your inbox, and it still includes a terrific search function and built-in RSS. Thunderbird 2.0 will still include free extensions to add functionality and themes to change the look and feel at your whim. Luckily, Mozilla hasn't made the mistake of fixing what ain't broke. It's rare that a beta release isn't buggy, clunky, and generally a mess - especially when, as word has it, the developers are changing the code base - but I was pleasantly surprised by its stability and the dearth of issues.

Mozilla, the developer of the free Thunderbird e-mail client, has taken a good program and made it better with the release of the version 2.0 beta 1.

Mozilla thunderbird reviews