So having taken the decision to REPLACE Microsoft Office with something else it's a strangely worrying, yet cathartic time for me: I feel like I'm kicking a bad habit like smoking, drinking or chainsaw juggling - I know Office may not be the best thing for me, I know it costs me a lot of money but I like it and I've been using it for years.  It's in my comfort zone.

I definitely think its time for me to stand up and announce "my names Nick and I'm an addict"... it's time to go through techno-rehab.

This blog will be edited after succesful installation.

Short lists so far

• Thunderbird 3
• BAT
• Live Mail

NOTES ON WIP:

BAT - nope. just dont like it. very dated feel. clunky. not for me.

Microsoft Live Mail - Love it. email is great and very outlookish. doesnt calender and hooks into windows contacts which is nice. great email client but obviously the light little brother to outlook.

Thunderbird looks best so far. I'm not the biggest fan of its visual style but the junk mail handling is good and its theming abilities allow me to change the looks. The New TB3-BETA version looks to be an Outlook killer. It incorporates email, calendar (lightning) and contacts:

the early Alpha releases of TB3 were called Shredder (dont ask me why)

http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/early_releases/

http://ascher.ca/blog/2008/12/09/thunderbird-3-beta-1-a-platform-for-inn...

DECEMBER 29th 2008 NEWS UPDATE

Wow!   I think I can officially say that Outlooks days are numbered. As I type this, it's been a two whole days since I un-installed MS OFFICE and threw it away. Now running the incredible openoffice for all my desktop editing needs and the simply incredible Thunderbird 3 Beta + Lightning addon - which quite simply gives me a complete replacement for Outlook... email... calendars... contacts... todo lists.... it runs well, looks simple and clean and is completely free.

Yes I know it's beta but this only means that there are better (or should I say beta  ;) ) things to come...

Mozilla - you get the double thumbs up from me.

• Download, Install and Read my Quick-n-Dirty Guide to setting it up here