14 DAY TRIAL // What email client do you use? I'll be frank with you and reveal that I am a Thunderbird fan although it is not the best freebie on the market, I have to admit it, yet it has that appealing "je ne sais quoi" that makes me still use it for certain email accounts. DreamMail is also a great option if you are not invaded by a plethora of messages. Notice that I say nothing of the paid email clients as these definitely raise above the standards by providing a distinguished set of options and suite of features for you to work with.
However, with all the solutions floating on the Internet, each bringing a unique perspective over retrieving emails from a POP3 account, you should never stop looking for something better or a software that makes you feel more comfortable. Avanti! is one of the solutions newly introduced on the market. It is in beta stage for now and glitches should be expected. However, we proceeded to test it just to check on the potential of the application.
There is one thing to be mentioned before we start exposing the flaws and qualities of the application: it is also portable so it can be carried around on a memory stick with all the settings. As many other email clients on the market, Avanti! comes with a user friendly interface and provides one of the easiest ways to create a new account. As multiple account support has turned into a standard feature in any modern email client, the application incorporates this feature as well, so you can monitor multiple inboxes at the same time.
Avanti! has a pretty simple constitution but it incorporates the most useful options and, what is most important, it can be carried around with you on a portable device. The interface is split into three main sections showing the monitored accounts, the list of messages and message preview window displaying the email and sender's details.
In the lower part of the screen you benefit from the currently opened account and folder, the number of messages available in the folder and the countdown timer till the next check on the server for new messages. The last piece of information may be a bit confusing as it will display the time left under the form of h/m/s and the hour will always be 12:00 despite the fact that the timer is set in seconds.
Adding an account is piece of cake as the procedure is almost wizard driven. The option for creating an account is available in Account menu section of the menu bar. The procedure is not different from what other email clients offer, but in Avanti! you will not be guided by a wizard and have to go to the next tab manually after completing the fields. There is one aspect you should have in mind: as the software is in beta stage, do check the option for keeping a copy of the mail on the server, just in case (last option under POP3 tab). This way you will manipulate only copies of the messages and have them backed up on the server.
Otherwise, all messages on the server are automatically downloaded to your computer. Well, during our testing, some of them still remained on the server and could not be retrieved by the application, no matter what. Upon requesting the check of new messages, the app showed them on the server but could not retrieve them although it had been set not to keep any of them on the server.
One of the major downsides of the application is the lack of Forward option which is essential for some of the users. However, you can re-send received messages with little effort by editing them as new. However, in order to achieve this, you will have to first select the message to be re-sent and then choose "Edit As New" option. Attempting the action by simply right clicking the desired message while another one is selected will result in sending the wrong message. To make sure that you are doing a good job, make sure that message preview window is changed and shows the message you want to edit and/or re-send.
Another glitch on account of the early stage of development is the fact that, sometimes, the software may show 0 byte messages. Not that they've been sent this way originally, but something happened on the way and all content was emptied. In our case, this phenomenon happened because the application mixed the messages from the accounts we tested it with. Thus, a message from one account was displayed in another, but emptied of all content. The good news is that you will not miss the email.
If you select Inbox folder and right click account name and go to its Properties to make some modification to the template, right clicking on any message in the list will result into an error pop up. But the software will not crash and this is just a minor mishap as selecting Inbox folder again and repeating the procedure of right clicking a message will end in the regular action.
Although it is not a major pitfall, Avanti! has a problem with the way the selections are made. Right clicking on an element does not select it by default and making some settings will definitely cause an error pop up. And yet, following the longer procedure and selecting the element first, and then right clicking everything, will function normally.
Avanti! is not meant to abound in options but, on the contrary, keep everything to minimum and offer great functionality and flexibility at the same time. However, when sending a message, there is more than one would expect. Depending on the message type (HTML or plain text) you can customize the background, font (color, size, type), add images, insert links (HTTP(S), FTP, GOPHER, FILE, NEWS, etc.), insert table or align the text. You can also insert horizontal rulers, but the nasty thing is that you cannot remove them by using keyboard's Delete (you have to use Cut function in the software to get rid of them).
It seems that Avanti! is a good solution for playing a little prank on someone, as you are allowed to change From field with any address you want, despite the fact that the application inserts the address of the account by default.
Sending the message revealed additional limitations of this early beta version. I wasn't able to send an email to any Yahoo or Gmail addresses I tried. But it all worked just fine when using our own server to communicate with my fellow mates.
The address book is as simple as can be and keeps it all simple and as functional as possible. It can store only essential information on your contacts, like email, website, birthday, address phone number and some additional info of your choice. It's not much, but it is all you need about a contact.
Regarding the configuration of Avanti!, this is an easy task as you have to face a minimum of options. The application can be ran with Windows so that you no longer have to start it manually, set it to minimize to system tray for not intruding your work, customize its looks by setting up the three main windows available in the main application window (account tree, message list and message preview) or activate the automatic server checking feature. With the latter option, you get to choose the accounts to be affected by this action and the time frequency to be performed (in seconds).
Avanti! still has lots of issues to be fixed but I am sure that it'll make for a very good portable client once the final version drops. The set of options is kept to a minimum but portability imposes the software to take as little space as possible. If you do not have needs for extraordinary functions like message encryption, a full set of macros to be used in templates or God knows what other features, Avanti! will make for a comfortable solution to check your emails from any computer.
The Good
The options included in the beta version are nothing fancy and are more than the minimum of functionality needed for a lightweight portable email client.
Customizing the looks of the application are a big plus as well as the support for multiple accounts.
The Bad
Avanti! is at the beginning of the road and hasn't yet reached the necessary maturity. It is a work in progress and therefore cannot be criticized for all discovered glitches.
The Truth
Although pretty far from being complete, I would keep my eyes on Avanti!, as through the options it includes it has proved that it can be a serious competitor on the market. However, there are some really rough edges to smoothen and it is quite far from a finishing touch.
All in all, the app promises a lot and once finished will make for a very good portable mail checker: simple, fast, portable, flexible and extremely easy to use.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
