Yahoo! Mail Plus and Mail Beta

November 18, 2007 I totally forgot to update this review. But it’s better late than never, right? Updates are in red.

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In search for a web-based email client that will suit my needs, I decided to try Yahoo! Mail Plus, an upgraded version of the Yahoo! Mail for $19.99/year. With it, I am using their new Yahoo! Mail Beta (which I’m loving more everyday), a new interface that looks like MS Outlook.

I just started using it so I might update this every now and then as I learn more. You will notice that I will be comparing some features with Gmail and Inbox since I use them, too.

Yahoo Mail! Plus

What I like:

• Retrieve POP emails and have the option to use these emails to send. Gmail does this too.
• You can archive your emails by folders and by date and save it on your computer in EML format. This won’t automatically delete your emails in your Yahoo! account. You can delete it yourself if you want to.
• You can have disposable addresses if you don’t want to use your primary address to prevent spam.
• Easy importing of contacts and emails from other popular web-based email accounts.
• Attachments are saved in your mail server. Even attached files in your sent mails are saved. This is true for free accounts as well.
• There is no limit to storage any longer. This applies to free accounts as well.
• Drafts are not automatically deleted when sent. This is useful for me since I use same emails over and over again. It may not be the case for other people.

What I think needs improvement:

• Storage is only 2GB while other free accounts such as Gmail and Inbox have more.
• I want more options with their filters like forwarding it to another email (like Gmail), marking it as read (like Inbox), flagging or applying a star (like Gmail and Inbox).
• It’s not free
• The search feature needs a lot of improvement. I think it is not capable of searching emails from different servers other than Yahoo.

What I want to see:

• The option to save attachments in storage like Inbox. I have common files that I send to people who request it. But I often go out of town so I have to save the files in my flash drive. But with Inbox, I can store the files in my storage and in the Write Message box, you can easily browse through your storage and attach the files.
• The option to use “conversations” and have better or customizable parameters. Inbox gives you the option to use conversations or regular view. Gmail uses “conversations” only and the parameters (i.e. same subject) they use don’t work with my emails.
• The option to automatically check emails from all POP accounts. So far I noticed that it only automatically checks the emails from the primary Yahoo! account. Inbox gives you the option to check automatically or manually. Gmail does not give you the option, but I’m not sure if it checks automatically.
• Labels or tags in addition to folders.

Yahoo! Mail Beta

What I like:

• It resembles MS Outlook and I can easily drag and drop the messages.
• It uses tabs within Yahoo! (see photo above). It allows you to toggle between messages, the inbox, etc. When I compose a message, I can easily go through other emails for reference and not lose the message I’m composing. It does the same way for search results and other things. This is great for those who don’t use tab browsing.
• Keyboard shortcuts to most of the commands.
• I can view RSS feeds that I choose.
• Option to have the calendar timeline at the bottom toolbar. I don’t even have to click on Calendar to see what event is coming next. I get to see the events while I browse through my emails.
• Advanced event reminders via the calendar.
• You can chat using the email platform.

What I want to see:

• Identities. I have a few POP accounts and I use different signatures in each. But with only one identity, I only get to use one signature for all.
• A link to all attachments just like in the Yahoo! Mail Classic.