Problems with Netscape 8.1.2

I have used Netscape 7.2 for email for a long time. Now, after downloading Netscape 8.1.2 to my new PC (with Windows XP), I can't figure out how to use it for email. What happened to "Mail and Newsgroups "? Where is "Preferences?" Am I missing something?

I'm not interested in Webmail or in using Netscape as ISP - I have an excellent local ISP and simply want a good mail client. Do I have to return to 7.2, or is there a better alternative? TIA. Ted Mills

 

Welcome to the Forum, TedM!

Ted,

Netscape 8.x is a standalone Browser, i.e., with no mail client. Remember that it is now owned by AOL, and no longer affiliated with Netscape. I don't recommend going back to Netscape 7.2, as it has numerous unresolved security issues.

I highly recommend using Firefox, a standalone browser, and Thunderbird, the companion standalone Mail Client. Both are excellent applications, and will migrate your Netscape 7.2 Profile Data automatically, when installed.

However, if you are dead set on using a suite (browser, mail, and composer) then SeaMonkey would be an excellent choice. It is the replacement for the Mozilla suite and is being continued by an independent group, but only unofficially supported by Mozilla.

If you need further help, or have further questions, please let us know.

 

NS8.1.2 is the standalone successor of the pretty horrible 8.1 which had several unfixed bugs since its inception, in Jan 2006. I uninstalled it and then reinstalled it a total of fifteen times in the eight months which I had it. I have not checked out 8.1.2, other than seeing that the bug of dragging a bookmark, and dropping it in another location, still takes too long.
To compound problems with the comparison, my original profile was wiped out during the final uninstall of 8.1, no question asked. I had been able to carry the same profile through all my previous uninstalls.
I have had Thunderbird, for Mail, since I removed 7.2 last March. Firefox is my default browser, but there is an icon for Mail in 8.1.2, available through View|Toolbars|Customize. Drag and drop the "System Mail" icon.
If you keep 7.2, for mail, links will not open in 8.1.2, even if you make it default.
My suggestion is to keep 7.2, until you get Thunderbird set up. And, then see.
Seamonkey is pretty good.