Rios Computer Associates
IMAP: Pros and Cons
Internet Message Access Protocol, or IMAP, is one of two commonly-used email protocols. While POP3, the other protocol, connects to the email server regularly to download new messages, IMAP downloads messages only when you open them.
I've heard lots of wonderful things about IMAP, but in real life, I have found it has its own share of drawbacks. I had several folks I know using it, and they found these problems:
1. Since most of your email is online, you can't work on your email if you're not connected to the Internet.
2. You essentially have two sets of folders, one local, one online, which can get confusing, since they have the same or similar names.
3. Many IMAP providers have size limits on how big your files can get; this is a nuisance you don't have to deal with when you keep your email on your own computer.
4. Since most of your email is on line, retrieving things is much slower than if it were all on your own computer.
5. You are depending on the email provider for the security and privacy of your email; there is usually no simple way to back up your email.
If someone is willing to deal with the negatives of an on line email account, they don’t need to change providers, or pay extra—they can just get a Google account, which has virtually all the benefits of an IMAP account, and many other clever features as well.
And you don't need to install or configure a client program on every computer that you use, such as Outlook Express or Thunderbird, which you usually do with IMAP; while most IMAP providers have a webmail interface, it is often very clumsy compared to the regular email client. Google Mail (Gmail) only needs a browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox.
If someone wants to access their email when they don't have their computer with them, there is a much better solution, to my mind: "remote access" to your computer. This involves leaving your computer on when you are not there, and accessing it through a service like GoToMyPC or logmein.com. That way, you can access not only your email, but everything on your computer!
These services allow you to password protect your system, so you are at no greater risk of having someone access your computer than any other time it is turned on. And if energy use is a concern (and it should be!), you can set your computer to “Wake On LAN”—that is, to turn itself on automatically when you try to access it.
I use this solution all the time, and it's like having your entire computer, all your programs and all your files, with you wherever you are. It's lovely!
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IMAP is one of two commonly-used email protocols. I've heard lots of wonderful things about IMAP, but in real life, I have found it has its own share of drawbacks...
Click here to read more.
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