Use mail program or stay with web-based mail?

[axelfox]

I have an email address that I use frequently. THe interface isn't all that great, but it gets the job done. Since it is web-based, I can access it anywhere over the web. However, I think I can manage my mails better with a mail program like Thunderbird.

However, I frequently need to print attachments from this email account, and I have a networked printer at school that I usually print to. If I use a program, then I'll lose the ability to print my attachments to this printer in the easiest way (long way = dowload attachment to usb drive, then print from school computer).

Another thing:

If I keep all the emails on the server, then it'll get backed up and full and I won't be able to receive emails until I delete them via the web. Moreover, sometimes the computer that the program is installed on won't be on, but I'll have to send an email out, the email might not be on the web account (if I DL all emails to my computer); I don't want to have to turn on my laptop everytime I need to send 1 email.

Basically: I need the flexibility of a web-based mail but the management of a mail program.

Any suggestions?

 

[Crusty]

Just set whatever mail client you use to not delete mail off of the server. It's simple... if I am understanding your question.

 

[xbassman]

You could leave e-mails on the server then use the web interface when you need to delete some.
or better yet. Use GMail and Thunderbird. Gmail will remove messages from your inbox when you download them, but save them in the all messages folder. It's definately less clutter in your box, but you can still get to them. I kinda doubt you will overflow 1GB storage.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: MCrusty
Just set whatever mail client you use to not delete mail off of the server. It's simple... if I am understanding your question.

But then every so often I would have to enter the email client and delete all the emails so that my mailbox doesn't get full, right? Is there anyway that when I delete from my email client, it'll delete it from my mail server?

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: xbassman
You could leave e-mails on the server then use the web interface when you need to delete some.
or better yet. Use GMail and Thunderbird. Gmail will remove messages from your inbox when you download them, but save them in the all messages folder. It's definately less clutter in your box, but you can still get to them. I kinda doubt you will overflow 1GB storage.

I need to use this specific account, but it's nice to know GMAIL and Thunderbird does it.

 

[xbassman]

Does this account do forwarding?
If so you could have them sent wherever you like.

 

[Crusty]

I Thunderbird, right click on the server and goto properties. Under the server settings, check leave mail on server, then also check until I delete or move from the inbox.

It's pretty easy to figure out, just gotta know where to look.

 

[Malak]

Opera has built-in mail functions so I use that to check my POP email accounts. It's a lot more convenient than going and checking through webmail, and faster.

 

[kamper]

What kind of retrieval server does this mail account offer? If it's IMAP I doubt you'll have any of the problems you're talking about right now. You can leave messages on the server and delete them from the desktop client, move them around between folders, etc. In comparison POP sucks.