Imap
 

So I'm thinking of using IMAP for one of my addresses and set it up in Thunderbird, instead of the pop3 I've used for years. Should I do it or not? What are the relative advantages and disadvantages to IMAP instead of pop3? Or should I forget it and just use pop3?

I use IMAP exclusively... the main benefit is having all your mail indefinitely stored on the server... not that you can't tell pop3 clients to leave a copy on the server... but what if you forget one time? Additionally it doesn't store what's "new" in pop3 (I don't believe) so everything is new the first time you add an additional client...

This is basically it in a nutshell. Folders, Subscriptions, all Server-Side. Makes mobility much easier.. and with tools like imapsync, you can easily copy everything over into another server or gmail.

You can also download headers only if you'd like (with IMAP) which is AWESOME for mobile platforms!

IMAP is the winner :thumbsup

yeah, use IMAP if you're going to use multiple devices: desktop, laptop, mobile

Thanks. So every incoming message can be accessed by multiple clients (my laptop, my desktop, my phone) and shown as "new" messages?

How does that tool work?

But on the flip side, if all you wanted was to download into one client--your laptop, just tell pop3 to keep copies on the server and there is no real advantage to IMAP.