Eudora (Penelope) for Mac

Quick summary

Longtime fans of the classic Eudora will find Penelope — the newest incarnation of the mail client — familiar yet modern. It combines recognizable Eudora visual elements with many features and interface conventions borrowed from Mozilla Thunderbird, resulting in a straightforward mail program for sending and receiving messages.

Setup and core mail features

Penelope is simple to install and configure, and it supports basic mail workflows right away.

• Send and receive messages with a standard, easy-to-use client interface.
• A straightforward installation and account-creation process gets you started quickly.
• Create message filters to automate sorting and handling of incoming mail.
• Use a live search (“type-as-you-go”) to jump through messages instantly.

RSS, previewing and feed handling

Penelope includes an RSS reader derived from Thunderbird’s implementation. Feed importing ran smoothly in testing, and you can read feed content inside the program instead of being redirected to a web browser. The integrated preview pane provides quick access to item summaries and full entries.

Add-ons and contact management

One advantage of this release is compatibility with Thunderbird extensions: most add-ons designed for Thunderbird can be installed in Penelope, expanding its functionality. The contacts area has been polished as well, and the client supports importing and exporting address books in several common formats.

Stability notes and final thoughts

Although Penelope is still under active development and can be occasionally unstable, it presents a compelling alternative for users who want a modern Thunderbird-style client with Eudora’s look and some of its workflow. The developers appear to have successfully merged the strengths of both projects into a usable mail client.