Thunderbird for google

Thunderbird is probably the best open source mail client out there and gmail the best free mail service provider. Why not put them together for the best of both worlds!?

Thunderbird will let you configure mail, addressbook and calendar with its gmail add-on plug-ins.

• To begin with, download Thunderbird
  


• Add gmail account using File->New->Account wizard.
  


• Thats all you need to do to send and receive mails through gmail.
  


• For calendar, download Lightning to your hard disk
  


• Install lightning from Tools->Add-ons->Install menu on thunderbird.
  


• Restart thunderbird
  


• Goto calendar view, and in calendar properties, set the XML URL for your private google calendar. This is available on the calendar settings page of your online google calendar.
  


• Lightning should start showing your calendar events from google now.
  


• Do not forget to uncheck the default "Home" calendar from Thunderbird calendar view so that your events get added to google calendar always.
  


• Now, let us setup an add-on to get your google address book to Thunderbird.
  


• Download Zindus from here to your hard disk
  


• Install it to Thunderbird from Tools->Add-ons->Install
  


• Restart Thunderbird
  


• Use the Zindus configuration window from Tools->Zindus on your Thunderbird to add google account credentials.
  


• Click "Sync Now"
  

You are all set to use Thunderbird for google now.