IMAP or POP3?

Timbo_La

Timbo_La

Timbo_La

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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404
Hi,

just set up a IMAP accout in outlook to connect to my website to recieve my messages. just wondering which is better to use, IMAP or POP3. or do they both have their advantages and disadvantages.

cheers

Timbo
 
Last edited:
IMAP connects to a mail server (not a website) to receive messages.

An IMAP e-mail account stores your messages on a remote server permanently. A POP3 account will delete message once they are downloaded.

The main advantage of IMAP is that you can go to another computer and still view your e-mail because it is stored on a central server.
 
You can configure most email clients to leave messages on the server when using POP3 though.

I tend to use POP3 personally, as it allows you to organise your messages more easily/effectively than you would be able to with IMAP.
 
IMAP is technically much cooler than POP3, but apparently suffers badly over connections with more than a tiny bit of lag, so you might be better going with POP3 in that instance.
 
subrosa said:
IMAP connects to a mail server (not a website) to receive messages.

An IMAP e-mail account stores your messages on a remote server permanently. A POP3 account will delete message once they are downloaded.

The main advantage of IMAP is that you can go to another computer and still view your e-mail because it is stored on a central server.
Click to expand...
IMAP stores e-mails and folders on the server, letting you view on your PC. POP3 will download messages and store them in folders on your PC.

I cheat - I use POP3 on my desktop and set Outlook to leave a copy of the messages on the server, and on my phone I use IMAP :)
 
robmiller said:
IMAP is technically much cooler than POP3, but apparently suffers badly over connections with more than a tiny bit of lag, so you might be better going with POP3 in that instance.
Click to expand...

IMAP is horrible with >100ms latency. It's bliss with a nice fast UK server even over residential ADSL ;).

Haven't used POP3 in a loooong time.
 
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