OUtlook 2007 - IMAP vs POP3, any advantages?

[boing]

I've had to do reinstalls on my parents computers recently and noticed that, when setting up Outlook Express, Btinternet email accounts now auto configure to IMAP server settings. On my dad's machine I just re-set it to POP3 but now, doing my mum's machine, I'm wondering why it's become the default, are there advantages?

I always preferred POP3 because if I delete an email from Outlook and need to retrieve it there's a copy left on the main server, with IMAP you lose this. Also if for some reason your server inbox fills and your ISP starts deleting older emails you lose them in Outlook if using IMAP.

Are there any advantages to it?

 

[Dahak]

I would say the the biggest plus to go to IMAP is that it will be synced across various devices, but at the minuses of what you said.

If there is only 1 device connecting to it, i can't see why not stay with POP

 

[Anteaus]

I always preferred POP3 because if I delete an email from Outlook and need to retrieve it there's a copy left on the main server, with IMAP you lose this. Also if for some reason your server inbox fills and your ISP starts deleting older emails you lose them in Outlook if using IMAP.

IMAP is superior in my opinion because it allows you to access email from multiple devices and sync in real time. POP3 can also be dangerous because if it removes the copy from the server and your hard drive crashes you lose your emails

As for accidental deletion, any decent IMAP email setup will have a "deleted" folder that acts like a waste basket The emails aren't permenantely deleted and can be restored easily. If you re thinking about switching to IMAP, I suggest you look into making a move away from your ISP and to a more centralized email service like GMAIL. This way your email stays completely portable and if you change or lose your ISP it won't affect you.

Gmail also has a cool feature where it will check all of your POP3 accounts and drop the emails into your primary gmail account. It can also send emails through your various accounts so one email login gives you full control of any number of email accounts simultaneously. Just a thought.

 

[boing]

I would say the the biggest plus to go to IMAP is that it will be synced across various devices, but at the minuses of what you said.

If there is only 1 device connecting to it, i can't see why not stay with POP

Yeah that's pretty much my outlook on it.

 

[boing]

IMAP is superior in my opinion because it allows you to access email from multiple devices and sync in real time. POP3 can also be dangerous because if it removes the copy from the server and your hard drive crashes you lose your emails

I didn't think POP3 could do that? is it a configuration option?

Gmail also has a cool feature where it will check all of your POP3 accounts and drop the emails into your primary gmail account. It can also send emails through your various accounts so one email login gives you full control of any number of email accounts simultaneously. Just a thought.

I might look into that, cheers, definitely want to move away from ISP in the long term.

 

[Anteaus]

I didn't think POP3 could do that? is it a configuration option?



I might look into that, cheers, definitely want to move away from ISP in the long term.

It's your email application that does that. There should be a setting to either leave them on the server or remove them.

 

[Dahak]

POP3 can also be dangerous because if it removes the copy from the server and your hard drive crashes you lose your emails

Usually yes by default it will automatically delete it from the isp sever once it is downloaded to the client.

You have to enable the option to keep a copy on the server

 

[gmaster456]

Yeah that's pretty much my outlook on it.

Ba dum tssss!!!!

[removed]

I have no idea why you're trying to embed a Base64 encoded image here. But please don't do that
-ViRGE

 

[boing]

Just looked into that, very useful to know, cheers!

 

[boing]

Ba dum tssss!!!!