Mailbox Manager Editor's Review

Mailbox Manager is a simple program that can check your POP 3 e-mail box.

The first application that came into my mind, when I opened this application was MyPOPBarrier. There are some similarities between these programs.

Working with this application isn't an easy thing to do. In fact, from the beginning the program gives you a headache. Because entering the settings for a new account can be difficult. After starting it up a panel requesting a password popped. That's the default window for unregistered applications from this producer.

First thing, I took notice of was the fact that the edit boxes for the new account were disabled. In order to enable them you need to click the 'New' button.

The second phase is entering your account details. If you check the 'Privacy ON' flag, you have to provide a password for this account. This operating mode is recommended, if you share your computer with your family or your friends. The required password is not the one required by the POP3 server, it's just an internal password, which protects your account settings from unauthorized access.

After filling out that form, please do not press the 'Apply' button. I think the producer should rename it 'Do not press here' or 'Wipe all your information'. Instead of applying your settings, the application gives you a message about the possibility to change the password if you entered it wrong. What password? The application already wiped everything.

In order to bypass the problem described above, hit the 'Return' key. This enables the 'OK' button. After doing so, you can access your account.

In this program, I like the possibility to define spam filters or white lists, and the functionality 'Mail online'. The spam filter is especially useful, if your default e-mail application doesn't have one.

The stress test was the connection to a fake account. I've entered a fake e-mail server and a fake address. Waiting for the application to time out is quite boring, so after a while I decided to stop the whole process. What can I say? It stopped. However, it stopped with a crash of the application. I tried to repeat the action and it did the same, so clearly this is a bug.

Some missing features from this program are: the support for the IMAP 4 e-mail protocol and the possibility to use SSL and TLS connections. Changing the remote port is also not implemented. Sticking just with the 110 port might not be enough in some cases.

Pluses: it fetches the e-mails from the server pretty quickly, you can read and decide which one you want to keep, there are some useful implementations such as the spam filter and the white list.

Drawbacks / flaws: instabilities, the lack of support for IMAP and SSL/TLS, setting up your accounts might be a real challenge.

In conclusion: someone should probably hint the producer to include the support for IMAP and SSL/TLS. We are not in the early age of the e-mail anymore. The stubborn interface can be annoying sometimes, thus some patience is required.

version reviewed: 1.1.6