Tech Guides :: Zimbra :: Client Choice
Choosing a Client
We heartily recommend that everyone use the “Zimbra Web Interface” (Windows, Mac and Linux users alike) to enjoy the best email experience. You’ll be able to use the same interface whether you are on or off campus, your email and contacts will look the same no matter where you are, and your calendar will appear in the same application as your email.
UNLESS...you frequently rely on "off-line" mode for reading and replying to your email (e.g., you read and reply to emails on airplanes or other locations where you don’t have any internet connectivity). Then, you might want to consider the using Outlook with the Zimbra Connector or Mac Mail and iCal with the Zimbra iSync connector. These clients provide nearly the same functionality as as the Zimbra Web Client, plus the ability to synchronize your email and calendar before and after you perform off-line work. These clients requires a small amount of configuration to work properly.
OR...you just love Outlook or Mail or some other client and don't have the spare energy right now to learn how to use the Zimbra Web Interface. (But we really think you'll love the Zimbra Web Interface! Come on - TRY it!)
Client Selector Tool
To assist you in deciding, there is a Client
Selector Tool which by answering a few simple questions will give guidance
to which client would be best for your needs. In addition to using the
tool, staff and faculty should check with the technology consultant for
their area, who may have additional information for specific work locations.
The Bottom Line
Technically, any email client (that can do POP or IMAP) will work, but be
aware that there may be some limitations with using these other clients -
mostly the ability to look up email addresses while composing a new email
message, or view other users’ free/busy times on their
calendars. We want you to have a great experience with email, and picking
a client that isn't on our Supported Client list may leave you wanting more. We
also want you to be able to get help for the client you use. Picking a
supported client and discussing your client choice with your Information Technology
Consultant (ITC) will result in the best possible scenario for you.
For more details on client functionality, visit http://www.humboldt.edu/~its/techguides/zimbra/clients/compare.shtml
For staff and faculty, we recommend that you discuss your email client needs
with your ITC.
Supported Clients
Using a supported client means you will be able to get assistance from
the Help Desk and your ITC on configuring or using one of these clients. These clients were chosen based on their capabilities and integration with the Zimbra server. Being a supported client does not necessarily mean that these clients have all of the features that Zimbra has. Those limitations are noted.
- Zimbra Web Client - Configuring Zimbra
- Outlook with the Zimbra Connector (no online collaboration tools) - Configuring Outlook
- Mac Mail & iCal with the Zimbra iSync Connector (no online collaboration tools, cannot lookup free/busy time) - Configuring Mac Mail
No Longer Supported Clients (Not Recommended)
The clients listed here were previously supported by the Help Desk and other IT staff. Because of their limited functionality (no calendar support, no synced address books, no shared address books), we have had to remove them from our Supported Clients list. We apologize for the inconvenience that this may cause, but we assure you that the benefits you will receive from using a supported client will quickly outweigh the discomfort of learning a new client.
Any of these clients will still work using IMAP or POP; however they are greatly lacking in functionality and we do not recommend that you use them. Assistance with and configuration guides for unsupported clients will not be available.
Unsupported Clients
Any client not listed in the Supported Client List is considered "unsupported."
Zimbra Desktop Client is currently unsupported. The Zimbra Desktop Client is in Beta, missing some features, and is not supported by the Zimbra company.
All standards-based (IMAP or POP) clients WILL work for reading your email; however, you'll be missing out on the features and support available in the Zimbra Web Client or other supported clients.
