Using thunderbird as email client

Thunderbird is a very good alternative for Outlook. You shall try it.

First download it from here:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_thunderbird/


Use this skin:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/891

Import your contacts to thunderbird as decribed here:
http://email.about.com/od/mozillathunderbirdtips/qt/et_gmail_addr.htm