Step 1: Save Disk Space

If you're watching your disk space, you'll appreciate the size of third-party software like the Eudora package, significantly smaller than Microsoft email programs. And the messages of each mailbox are stored in an indexed text file, which stores efficiently on compressed disk drives.

Step 2: Investigate Quality Issues

Software quality is always a concern. If you start using software of unknown quality for important work, your productivity can suffer. Eudora mail has been in widespread use since 1994, and remains popular today. There is a newsgroup dedicated to Eudora mail, where you can read what others have written about the latest version before you upgrade.

Step 3: Enjoy Eudora Free

Eudora is available in a full-featured version supported by advertisers, and in a "light" version with reduced features. Both of these are free of charge. Even the light version is very capable email software, and it's the version covered in these tutorials. See the tutorial "Choose the right version."

Step 4: Filtering Out Junk Mail

You can set filters on your incoming mail to reduce the number of junk mails you have to read. Filters can be set based on usernames, subject, even the content of the message body. The messages still download to your computer, but can be filtered into the trash without appearing in your "in" box.

Step 5: Using Plain Text

Fancy fonts and bold print are available in Eudora Pro but not in Eudora Light. The latest version of Eudora handles these rich text (HTML) features, but that release is not recommended due to several problems. Users are encouraged to use plain text with Eudora Light, or to pay for Eudora Pro, until Qualcomm gets more fixes made to Eudora version 4. See the tutorial "Choose the right version."