VersaMail can be a great app at times. But when it is used as a primary client by a perfectionist like me, all sorts of stupid things get noticed. Today we are going to compare the T|X’s default version of VersaMail (v3.1C) with the latest version of Agendus Mail SSL Edition (v5.31)

So bring it on: 5 things I hate about VersaMail

#1: VersaMail cannot store attachments on VFS
This by far the worst complaint I have. I get attachments quite often. Usually they average 2—300KB and, when I was a VersaMail user, I had a 9MB VersaMail attachments db. 9MB! AgendusMail, on the other hand, has the option to store attachments on the VFS. It does, however, store both the message AND the «MIME ENCODED» attachment. This, IMHO, means you must use Agendus to get the attachment free. (IE, you can’t open the zip with RescoExplorer before extracting it with Agendus.)
Agendus Attachments in RescoExplorer

VersaMail is too slow
Most of the time VersaMail takes over 10 seconds to start. This is not good for me, as I am always on the run. If I need to get my mail, I need it now. Agendus starts up very quickly, just like any other app should. The reason, IMHO, that VersaMail is so slow is that, like Blazer, it is flushing the DBCache. Agendus was real light on cache usage, so no flush is neccesary.
DBCahce beforeDBCache Afterwards
AgendusMail’s use of the DBCache before and after getting and reading about 120 mails.

VersaMail doesn’t have a Memo/Calendar/Task export
I am completely addicted to this. Agendus can save mails, or selection thereof to the PIM application of your choice. I LOVE this so much. It can be a quick way to save a chunk of text, instead of using Accesorizer, which can make other issues.
MEmo Export through Agendus Tasks Export through Agendus Calendar export using Agendus

Agendus has a smaller memory footprint
Besides the mail DBs (and VersaMail’s attachment DB) Agendus is about 800KB in RAM. VersaMail is around 1200KB. I am trying to squeeze as much memory as possible out of my poor T|X and definitely it helps. My z22 (15MB usable RAM) is also using Agendus and the small memory size helps.

VersaMail has horrible error reporting
90% of the time that a mail doesn’t get sent in VersaMail, I don’t realize it. VersaMail does not so much as wink at me if a mail does not send, only quietly tuck the message away in the drafts folder. I have had instances where I am waiting and waiting for a reply and never bother to look in the drafts folder to realize it is still there! AgendusMail has excellent error handling. AgendusMail will almost make sure that you get support for a problem by automatically sending logs of the errors to the folks down at Iambic. (And to those who are a bit paranoid: this can be disabled… Although, I am sure the folks at Iambic would be glad to help you out.)
Error Reporting

So, if you use your Palm for mail and are being constantly annoyed by VersaMail, check out AgendusMail (GMail users should pick up the SSL edition.) It is a great app definitely worth trying out!

I do have some nice feature requests for the guys and gals down at Iambic:
1. Encrypt the mails/attachments. This would be awesome. This would secure the mail (duh) and, it looks great on the product page: “Now with AES encryption!” or something similar.
2. The ability to disable the downloads of attachments. I don’t need a bunch of old SrcEdit builds that can easily be got off of my desktop. It made downloading the mails perhaps the most painful hour of my life. Seriously. Imagine a 15 year old high schooler sitting out in front of his grandma’s house, holding up his T|X trying to get a wireless connection, baking in the +100°F Arizona weather for an hour…