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With IMAP, a problem on the server can cause email to disappear. I've had it happen. With POP, server problems don't affect mail you have already downloaded. I like the fact that the POP client doesn't know that I may have read an email on my iPad first. Bottom line is that IMAP screws with the way that I organize. I don't like it at work but I'm used to it. Being forced to use it at home is not something I have to put up with.

Yes, with IMAP, you need a rock solid mail server. I've never lost anything. I also use smart folders to duplicate important stuff onto a folder on my Mac, JIC.

mikehalloran wrote:With IMAP, a problem on the server can cause email to disappear. I've had it happen. With POP, server problems don't affect mail you have already downloaded.

It's one of the reasons I prefer POP. I've had experiences with my hosting company having server issues and feel more secure that my past emails (and attachments) are always there.

James Steele wrote:

mikehalloran wrote:With IMAP, a problem on the server can cause email to disappear. I've had it happen. With POP, server problems don't affect mail you have already downloaded.

It's one of the reasons I prefer POP. I've had experiences with my hosting company having server issues and feel more secure that my past emails (and attachments) are always there.

IMAP doesn't prevent you from downloading your email.

Tell you what. I'll spare us all my usual long-winded post regarding all the differences between IMAP and POP and cut to the bottom line. I don't like IMAP on my Mac for my music business. If Yahoo! Bizmail has really discontinued it, I am in the market for a new host.

bayswater wrote:

James Steele wrote:

mikehalloran wrote:With IMAP, a problem on the server can cause email to disappear. I've had it happen. With POP, server problems don't affect mail you have already downloaded.

It's one of the reasons I prefer POP. I've had experiences with my hosting company having server issues and feel more secure that my past emails (and attachments) are always there.

IMAP doesn't prevent you from downloading your email.

But don't I have to actively go ahead and download attachments? If I decide I want to get a file that was emailed to me and my server is down, I can't get it? I just like having all my emails accessible offline.

James Steele wrote:

bayswater wrote: IMAP doesn't prevent you from downloading your email.

But don't I have to actively go ahead and download attachments? If I decide I want to get a file that was emailed to me and my server is down, I can't get it? I just like having all my emails accessible offline.

I don't think so. You can add a simple Rule in Mail preferences that selected messages and copies them to a local mailbox. Or, when you check mail, drag specific messages to a local Mailbox if there are only a few that you might need later. My IMAP server rarely goes down, but I do this in case I need to look at some specific messages when I don't have internet access. I hadn't thought about whether attachments were copied, but just checked, and I can open attachments in the local mailbox if the internet access is turned off.

bayswater wrote:

mikehalloran wrote:I'm ok with the Apple Mail client but don't love it. Finding something better is on my 'get around to it' list and has been for years.

Same here but there never seems to be anything that much better. What's the problem with IMAP?

I've been working with Postbox for a few days and I mostly like it (the add-ons are very helpful) and it's much faster than Apple Mail but I'd be hard pressed to say it's actually "better."

Fact is I'm not a fan of the Unified Inbox model, but that seems to be what everything is doing now.

mikehalloran wrote:Tell you what. I'll spare us all my usual long-winded post regarding all the differences between IMAP and POP and cut to the bottom line. I don't like IMAP on my Mac for my music business. If Yahoo! Bizmail has really discontinued it, I am in the market for a new host.

Completely agree. After 15 years of POP downloading and filtering into appropriate folders and routing relevant send to those same folders, I have a complete and accurate database of every email conversation my studio and other businesses have ever had.