"I will also need a mail client for the Mac. I guess I will go for Thunderbird."

Since I use gmail I couldn't use a local mail client anymore (I think they will slowly disappear).

Also you can now use gmail off-line if you commute for example.

I understand their could be a "privacy/security" concern but a laptop can be easily stolen too.

My 2 cents
francois | Homepage | 07/08/12 - 6:13 pm | #

I suggest you look for something called "Mail Act-On" and try using it together with Mail.app before you go straight to Thunderbird.

(Mail Act-On is the only thing keeping me on Mail.app, and it's so useful that I can't let go.)
Rui Carmo | Homepage | 07/08/12 - 6:17 pm | #

I'll look at "Mail Act-On".

I've uhm.. heard of gmail before.

I don't particularly like it as a client and prefer Thunderbird. I archvie stuff at gmail and use it for the search though.
Michael Foord | Homepage | 07/08/12 - 6:23 pm | #

"I've uhm.. heard of gmail before."

What a small planet, happy backups then
You probably know it but if you use Google tools in general set the language to "US".
In all other languages, even "UK", you have less advanced options (all new options are for "US" only and eventually much latter for other l18n).

Concerning Thunderbird even the Mozilla Foundation don't want it anymore (but at least it's Open Source):

"""
According to those who know best, it's time for Thunderbird to start paying its own rent. Mozilla is cutting Thunderbird loose, and in doing so, raising questions about importance of desktop e-mail in the age of web apps.
"""
source:
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybite...ink-or- swi.html
francois | Homepage | 07/08/12 - 9:33 pm | #

As someone who both recommended Quicksilver and uses Launchy on my windows box I would have to say that there is a lot more to Quicksilver than the simple application launching that is offered by something lke Launchy. There are a lot of additional modules for quicksilver that enable various "verbs" from just about any particular application you will be using, and once you get the hang of stringing together various bits you will have found a rather powerful tool. As someone who started computing on a real DEC VT100 I sometimes find it annoying to have to take my hands off the keyboard to get things done, Quicksilver allows you to do a lot of things with just a few keypresses. Take a look at some of the tutorials linked to from 43Folders...
evgen | 07/08/13 - 6:11 am | #

As evgen has noted - the big thing about quicksilver is the ability to do common tasks without moving your hands off the keyboard. It is basically a command line for the GUI. For more (insane) tips check out Merlin "don't waste a millisecond" Manns site 43 folders (in fact just check out Merlin Mann in general - very smart and entertaining guy)

For Mail I have recently switched to Mailplane - http://mailplaneapp.com/. All the meaty goodness of a desktop mail client without the slow load times and the clunking. Switching to Mailplane and gmail was the best move I made email wise.
mark | Homepage | 07/08/13 - 10:13 am | #