i.Scribe

i.Scribe is a lightweight and straightforward e-mail client that offers a simple method of sending and receiving emails with minimum effort. It is addressed toward all users, regardless of their skill level.

At startup you can select your preferred language, since i.Scribe is built on a multilingual platform, as well as establish a directory and filename for storing emails and contacts, aside from making the tool your default e-mail client.

The interface is not visually impressive, but i.Scribe prefers to let users easily navigate its options without worrying about visual effects.

From the settings panel you can write identity details (name, email address, recipients, XML signature) and configure options when it comes to the SMTP server and mailbox type, port number, authentication type and details, preferred charsets for sending, and SSL.

It is possible to append signatures to replies and forwards, use quotes, enable sound notifications for new emails, enable the automatic deletion of executable attachments for security reasons, establish optional HTTP and SOCKS 5 proxy parameters, edit font properties, and create log files.

You can mark emails as spam, filter items, view a calendar and manage to-do lists, appointments and events, organize a contacts list, use a refined search function (e.g. include subfolders, limit fields in emails and contacts), create template emails, disable the filtering of incoming emails, as well as import data from other email clients, such as the address book from Thunderbird. These are just a few notable options supplied by i.Scribe.

The application is very forgiving when it comes to the CPU and system memory, and responsive to commands. It performed well throughout our evaluation, and did not cause Windows to hang, crash or show errors.

In conclusion, i.Scribe is a surprisingly feature-rich email client which puts emphasis on transfer speed and seamless accessibility. If you do not want to waste time with the installation process, you should know that a portable edition is available for download, called Portable i.Scribe.