The desktop email client Postbox received quite a lot of attention lately on various technology news sites including Lifehacker, Download Squad and even Techcrunch. All websites spoke in favor of the desktop email client and liked new features such as the ability to view attachments out of context (meaning instead of searching for the email containing the attachment it is possible to view just the attachments or images of all emails in a specific folder), powerful search options or the integration of add-ons.
It was never more than a rumor that the Mozilla based email client would go commercial eventually. Now, with the announcement of beta 14 of Postbox came the confirmation that it will indeed be a commercial email client with no free version planned at this stage in time.
A single-user license for Postbox 1.0 will be sold at a regular price of $39.95 giving the user the option to install the email client on any computer that is personally used. Two add-on purchases are available. The first is a family pack for $19.95 which allows up to five family members in the same household to install Postbox with the same license on their computers. The second a lifetime upgrade option for $24.95 which guarantees that all Postbox upgrades will be free forever.
Prices are currently discounted by $10 with the exception of the lifetime upgrade option which can be purchased at a $5 discount. The most interesting question will obviously be how Postbox users and potential users react on the pricing announcement. Will they start looking for free alternatives or purchase a license for the desktop email client? What’s your opinion on the matter?
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Hmmm.
I wonder who would pay for email software when there are so many excellent free alternatives?
What does postbox have that others don’t?
While Postbox is a pretty nice client, it’s imo not worth 40$ over Thunderbird.
Wow, I always assumed that since it’s based on Thunderbird’s source code, that licensing restrictions would have prohibited them charging for it.
I use Postbox now at work, and I guess it’s a bit of an improvement over Thunderbird, but there is no way I would ever pay money for it.
Gmail plus Google Gears has replaced desktop email for me, and given the drive towards the cloud do they really think people will pay to lock themselves into a desktop client?
Haha, these guys are crazy! 40$ for an email client based on Thunderbird? I hope they are joking or something! If not, i hope they will die.
I run Postbox on my eee, but it’s anything great, or at least it’s not great like advised on their website. Anyway, it’s not worth the money nor it’s worth of being cracked, there are plenty of good free alternatives around.
And one of the best alternative for the Postbox are called “ThunderBird 3″ :P
it’s time for back to basic, everyone.
What is the point in paying for an email client when you have the likes of Thunderbird, it’s just the best in my opinion.
Where do these fools get off charging for Beta software?
If you’re going to charge for it, then it’s not Beta anymore. If it *is* Beta, then you better not be charging for it.
I have been running Postbox for some time now.
The original demo video a year or two ago made HUGE promises and had me really excited.
Postbox as it is now, is Thunderbird 3 with a pretty skin and a few extensions. It doesn’t really improve or redefine how you do anything.
I hate being negative but it all looks like a company trying to cash out before the inevitable. If they had any funding I am sure the Google Wave demos really bit into that.
@Shades O’Black
That’s a planned price list for incoming stable release. not for current beta.
I bought Postbox yesterday at the $29.95 +$19.95 lifetime sale price for beta users and I am very happy with my purchase.
In my opinion – Postbox is the best email client available today – and if you want the best, you can’t have “free”. I am an ex-Thunderbird user, and I’ve watched the development of Thunderbird over the past year. I don’t expect it to deliver Postbox-level features or usability anytime soon (same with Apple Mail).
Bottom line: $30 doesn’t seem like much to spend on an excellent product that I use for 10 hours a day.
As a wise man once said; “A fool and his money are soon parted”.
@Ryan: What features does Postbox have that Thunderbird is missing? I have no problem paying for quality software, so long as it provides a benefit over the free alternatives.
I have been using Postbox for several months…It’s a good email client. They can forget me paying $30. I will switch back over to Thunderbird.
Yeah, it’s nice and all. I would even call it great. Amazing, why not? But I sure as hell won’t pay a cent for it. Back to Thunderbird for me.
just freaking pirate the thing. Nobody’s going to pay that much for an email client that’s available for free with slight differences (thunderbird).