How Often are IMAP Accounts Used?

[mcp6453]

I do not know anyone who is using IMAP for non-Exchange email use. How
popular are IMAP accounts? A person asked me today to set up their email
client as IMAP so that she can check her email at the office and from
home, with the advantages that IMAP offers over POP3. Her server
supports IMAP.

I remember hearing some reasons NOT to use IMAP, but I cannot remember
what they are. Why should she not use it? Your comments are appreciated.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I do not know anyone who is using IMAP for non-Exchange email use. How
popular are IMAP accounts? A person asked me today to set up their
email client as IMAP so that she can check her email at the office
and from home, with the advantages that IMAP offers over POP3. Her
server supports IMAP.

I remember hearing some reasons NOT to use IMAP, but I cannot remember
what they are. Why should she not use it? Your comments are
appreciated.

How often? Every three-point-two seconds, exactly, in the continental US.
Well, OK, I made that up.

IMAP is superior to POP in that it doesn't automatically remove messages
from the server, allows access to more than just Inbox data, etc - it's sort
of "POP the way it oughta be".

That said, what you support on your server should be based on other things
than just user convenience. You say you aren't using Exchange - what are you
using, and if you're happy to open up POP, what's your objection to IMAP?

 

[mcp6453]

How often? Every three-point-two seconds, exactly, in the continental US.
Well, OK, I made that up.

IMAP is superior to POP in that it doesn't automatically remove messages
from the server, allows access to more than just Inbox data, etc - it's sort
of "POP the way it oughta be".

That said, what you support on your server should be based on other things
than just user convenience. You say you aren't using Exchange - what are you
using, and if you're happy to open up POP, what's your objection to IMAP?

I don't know that I have any objection to IMAP. It seems that I recall
that there is a lot more traffic between Outlook and the server, which
was more of a problem on dial-up than it is now. I'm asking, not
complaining.

What happens if you have an IMAP client open at home and at the office?
Does that create a problem?

The server is a standard Linux/Apache box, from what I understand,
operating under a shared hosting arrangment. The office only has 4
computers, and they have been using POP3 since the beginning.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I don't know that I have any objection to IMAP. It seems that I recall
that there is a lot more traffic between Outlook and the server, which
was more of a problem on dial-up than it is now. I'm asking, not
complaining.

I've never heard of this, but then, I tend to make stuff up, as you saw
earlier. Seriously, I don't think the bandwidth issues should be a
problem....I don't use IMAP, I use Exchange & occasionally POP, but I like
the idea of IMAP more than POP.

What happens if you have an IMAP client open at home and at the
office? Does that create a problem?

No, if you don't delete/purge and yet expect the items to be on the server.
But it could be a problem with POP.

The server is a standard Linux/Apache box, from what I understand,
operating under a shared hosting arrangment. The office only has 4
computers, and they have been using POP3 since the beginning.

Try it and see?