Re: [Evolution] IMAP vs. POP

[Patrick O'Callaghan <poc usb ve>]

On Thu, 2010-03-18 at 04:34 -0600, Bart wrote:
> 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
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Evolution-list mailing list
> > Evolution-list gnome org
> > http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/evolution-list
>
> 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?

If you never want to leave any messages (whatever their nature) on a
server, then there's little difference, but note that with IMAP you can
easily store some messages locally and others remotely. It's just more
flexible.

poc