Mail very slow to send, Thunderbird is instant. Anyone have any ideas?

Question

Mail very slow to send, Thunderbird is instant. Anyone have any ideas?

Just go my iMac, which so far is great and so is OS X. Spent over 2 hours setting up Mail with 2 accounts. It's a pretty messed up configuration process IMO.

Thunderbird took all of 2 minutes per account. But the issue is that Mail takes forever to send even the simplest email. It's also a little slow as receiving as well.

Same settings as Thunderbird. Why is it so slow?
Thanks
Gene

2.66 24" iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 8, 2009 12:32 PM

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Answer 1

May 8, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Gene Rynkewicz

Gene,

I find Mail quicker to set up than Thunderbird -- don't understand why it was so painful?

With some, but by far not all, ISP there can be an issue with negotiating the DNS address. Please prepare two simple messages, before sending either. Then send one of them, and when you hear the swoosh, immediately send the second. Does the second one go almost immediately?

Ernie

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Answer 2

May 8, 2009 2:43 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

Will give it a try tonight.

So if it's true (initial DNS trouble) why would I not have the same trouble with Thunderbird?

Gene

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Answer 3

May 8, 2009 2:47 PM in response to Gene Rynkewicz

It is how the negotiation of the DNS in some instances related to Mail, and per some people, sluggishness with Safari as well. Each app will not be the same in triggering this, of losing the connection between uses, and having to do over. This is what the little test with two messages is designed to tell us.

Ernie

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Answer 4

jigbobby

Level 1

24 points

May 12, 2009 7:18 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Ernie,
Apologies if I'm hijacking but I have had the same problem and since the OP hasn't replied I tried your test. The first message took 45 seconds until "swoosh" while the second went within 3 seconds. Any clues? Both messages were identical

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Answer 5

Geiger

Level 1

75 points

May 12, 2009 7:35 AM in response to Gene Rynkewicz

I have the same problem. Mail is way too slow and it's not smart. If you have multiple addresses and you switch them after one fails to send, it remembers the new address, but not the right server to send it from and it fails time and time again. It is ridiculous.

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Answer 6

May 12, 2009 9:33 AM in response to jigbobby

It has nothing to do with the messages, but only the negotiation with the SMTP, which fades away after a while, with some ISPs. I am going to refer you to another topic where various suggestions are made, and where for one poster, use of OpenDNS was a good workaround:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9423844&#9423844

I did not, as stated in that topic, have to do anything other than enter the DNS address into my modem that I got from a Windstream tech. I presume the reference to Open DNS is:

http://www.opendns.com/

I have not done this, and think that would not be needed except in extreme situations, which apparently use of Qwest as an ISP is one such.

Ernie

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Answer 7

May 12, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Geiger

Geiger,

I don't think you have the same problem, at least in whole. It sounds more likely that certain SMTPs are being blocked on certain Ports, and that is not a problem exclusive to Mail. Without knowing whether you are attempting to use Port 25 for third party SMTP, or trying to send when not at your home venue and regular internet connection, I cannot offer specific advice.

More info, please.

Ernie

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