Topic: IMAP vs. POP

[Wayne Baldwin]

In order to utilize the PROCMAIL filtering available from the "Networks User Mananger", I'm considering converting my present POP access to IMAP.  I hear that IMAP is newer and can do a lot more.  OK, I've tinkered with it today, and I don't see any great benefit.  In fact, it looks more troublesome for *my* users.

   Whereas getting eMail is a no brainer for users currently with POP, if I go IMAP, they will have to manage their INBOX better.  If they're accustommed to clutering their PC hard drive with old eMail, now I have to wonder if they'll EXPUNGE deleted eMail from the server, or whether it'll just take up server space?

   If I do go with IMAP, is there a device (in the Mitel Server) which would Expunge old eMail regularly for those who don't manage their mail?

   What if I don't go with IMAP.  As I said the whole reason I'm considering it is for the ProcMail filters.  I don't need multiple folders, so if I used the ProcMail add-on, couldn't I just let unwanted eMail fall into cyberspace and NOT go into a users default INBOX which would serve my purpose while still being able to maintain POP?

Thanks!

[Nick Texidor]

Personally, I think IMAP is only really useful where your users would want to read their email from multiple machines.

Half of the users connected to our e-smith box use POP, and the other half use IMAP.  The one advantage with the IMAP accounts is that they are included in the nightly backup I have going on the e-smith box.

The IMAP users can also access ALL their email from any machine on the local network (or from the internet for that matter).

We use Netscape/Mozilla, Eudora and Evolution to access our IMAP accounts, and they all handle filtering, they also have options to expunge the mail account on exiting the program.

N