Re: [Evolution] IMAP vs. POP

[Bart <montana_evolution_user hardinmt us>]

On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 09:06 -0430, Patrick O'Callaghan wrote:
> On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 08:42 -0400, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > On Wed, 2010-03-17 at 05:13 -0600, Bart wrote:
> > > Hope this is not too far off topic.
> > > I am using pop for all my email accounts.  I receive all my mail on one
> > > machine at one location.  But I keep seeing remarks that indicate IMAP
> > > as being just "SO" much better.
> > > Would someone either explain or point me to a place where I can learn
> > > the reasons for these comments?
> >
> > It depends upon your server;  if you have a powerful full-featured IMAP
> > server like Cyrus IMAPd [you can get a free Cyrus IMAP account at
> > <http://fastmail.fm/>] you can really exploit the power of a real
> > mailbox management protocol and server features.  If you are using some
> > hack ISP's IMAP implementation then it may not matter - or your ISP may
> > provide nothing but POP3.
> >
> > With IMAP you can have multiple folders on the server, move messages
> > between folder [on the server], access the mailbox from multiple
> > clients/hosts/interfaces, etc... all of which are impossible with POP
> > [which simply uses the INBOX on the server as a store-and-download
> > bucket].  Mail on the server is backed up by the server admins - a BIG
> > advantage over mail stored on the client.
> >
> > If your server supports it you can also setup rules [filters] on the
> > server that are invoked when the message is *delivered* vs. the crappy
> > client side filters that most mail clients try to implement.  There is a
> > lot of power in having the server filter [discard, file into folder,
> > flag as important, forward, auto respond, etc...] your messages - it
> > happens even when you are on vacation.   Real IMAP servers also let you
> > set annotation on folders that might do things like discard messages
> > after a certain number of days;  again, without you having to do
> > anything [you don't even have to login].
>
> While all of this is true, it should also be said that Evo doesn't
> support server-side filtering or folder annotations, so you have to use
> some other means to set these up.
>
> poc
>
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First, thanks for the rapid and thorough responses.

Quite a few valid reasons for IMAP.  Except.  In my situation, I don't
need backup by an administrator, I'm him.  All the accounts on my single
machine are from only two hosts.  I don't need auto vacation messages.
I keep my folders quite small in size/number of messages.  I have a huge
distrust of having personal stuff on someone else's computer.  I know it
passes through one, but it doesn't stay.

Would you agree in my situation I am as well served with POP3 as IMAP?

Bart