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So I want to get an email client set up on my PC now that it is in its final destination. I use gmail, but I'd like a client now rather than continuously use the web-based option. I have had Thunderbird, Postbox, and Outlook Express before but I would like some input into any other options (free is better). Anyone have any horror stories, or success stories using something else?

Platform is WIN7 64bit.

Thunderbird with the Compact Headers plug-in.  I haven't found any reason to use something else.  Gmail supports IMAP, so you can use it or the web client if necessary.

I've been using Thunderbird for years and like it, but I've read other people complaining about it's performance recently, especially with Gmail. YMMV. The alternative people have recommended to me is Claws (http://www.claws-mail.org/) but I've not used it myself since I'm happy with Thunderbird.

You can get the "windows live mail" from your Windows Update. Its under optional updates. I havent used it much, but it seems to be a decient client, and it integrates well with windows 7.

Thunderbird is pretty nice. I always felt it was a bit of a resource hog, but then I havent used it since Windows XP.

I used to use eM Client (http://www.emclient.com/), a very light weight local email client with some decent little features. Again, I haven't used it for a few years. Mostly I just use the gmail web client from home, and the OS X Mail.app on my work laptop.

My advice would be to give Windows Live Mail a try first and see how that works for you.

Concur with Morfiend. Windows live mail is a decent client, albeit not feature rich.

Windows Live Mail looks alot like the old Outlook Express that used to come with Windows XP. A perfectly good mail client if you don't need bells and whistles. I use Thunderbird myself though.

I used to use Thunderbird but have since grown to despise it.  The database it uses to store mail is astoundingly finicky and will get corrupt at the drop of a hat, especially if you take in some mail with big attachments.  As far as free mail clients go, I'd be much more inclined to use windows live mail, as it has a good spam filter and a very nice, clean interface.

Not that I actually use mail clients, I just go through web interfaces for my mail.

I use eM Client. Lots of features that I don't use and one or two annoyances but it does the job. I decided I liked it when I found out that if you write an email like "I'm attaching stuff" and then don't attach anything, it warns you that you forgot to attach something. Maybe this is standard for mail clients now. I dunno.