After just starting to use Thunderbird as my primary mail client, so I can view and check emails in windows and linux, I'm convinced that I don't like it! So now I'm looking for a replacement, and I currently have this in mind:

A backend or server, that is constantly running that holds all the emails, but isn't accessed directly. Instead, there are frontends, and can be many! Eg:

• A graphical based mail client much like the design of Slypheed, Thunderbird, Evolution etc. for linux. This would probably use something like GTK+ or Qt.
• A console-based mail client much like Mutt, or Pine for linux. This would be great because one could read their mail through SSH and therefore anywhere with an SSH client.
• Another graphical based mail client but this time for windows. This is not entirely necessary, but would be nice.
• A web-based mail client like IlohaMail, or QD-POP.

All of these would access the same server, and output all your emails in the same folders, in the same way. The only difference would be the interface.

Just talking about that now though makes me think what I'm suggesting is a Microsoft Exchange replacement! Exchange has a great web interface, uses Outlook for windows (a great client), and can be used by Evolution in linux. Of course, Exchange is a lot more complex, and has groupware kind-of stuff that is just not required. However, as I think about it more, the following features would be great to have in this server and clients:

• Mail client (obviously)
• Calendar
• Tasks

Which moves more and more into the realms of Exchange. As I own a Windows Mobile phone, I'd also love to have push-email, although that would cost in terms of GPRS and isn't entirely necessary.

Anyway, that's my thought of the day, and would love to make it, as a quick look on t'internet earlier for something like this revealed nothing. Let me know what you think...