However, this reminds me of another question I sometimes wonder about:
If I'm using an email program to retrieve my mail; be it, Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail or whatever, the likes of Hotmail (for example) require me to log-in, I think, once in 30 days or my account gets marked for deletion.
Does using a program of this nature mean I *still* have to log-in via the Web once a month to avoid being 'marked', or does using the client 'overcome' this. e.g. If I *only* use my client to retrieve mail & do not log-in via the web, will my account get marked for deletion?
I hope that makes sense!
Thanks again.
p.s. I understand the whole 'marked for deletion' thing & Hotmail does not support POP3, but I wonder on the principle of it, regardless of the provider being used. (If they too employ a 'use it, or lose it' policy)
I don't think there's a single answer here.
With Hotmail, for example, if you're using "officially supported" methods to access it via Windows Live Mail or with the Outlook Extender, I would assume you don't run the risk of some kind of inactivity deletion. Since other POP3 methods are not officially supported, I would not be surprised if you did need to login via the web every so often to keep the account active.
Other services, like GMail, Yahoo and so on ... it's unclear. I would hope that those that provide POP3 style access would take that as "activity", but it's never been made clear.
-Leo
Posted by: Just J at September 15, 2008 8:43 AM
FYI yahoo plus (yearly fee) gives you pop3.
Posted by: TMC at September 16, 2008 8:25 AM
the other advantage of using Outlook (or equivalent) is you only need internet connection for long enough to download/upload your mail.
Once downloaded, you can read at your leisure and compose replies, etc offline.
If you're in a location where you pay per minute for connection this can save you a few pounds. (or "bucks"!)
Posted by: Alan at September 16, 2008 11:27 AM
At least one ISP's mail cannot easily be exported to other mail programs. In my case, it is EarthLink mail. The downloaded mail can be exported in two ways: Earthlink Mailbox DAT file, for importing into another Earthlink Mailbox, or a CSV file for exporting to a completely different mail client. The problem with the latter (the CSV file) is that dates are not included. Therefore, when importing into another mail program, the messages are not organized by any recognizable order. I have complained several times to Earthlink about this, but apparently there is no interest in tweaking their export program to include dates.
Posted by: Clyde Reed at September 16, 2008 10:03 PM
I have both a Hotmail and Yahoo account. Yahoo use to allow you to have POP access if you signed up for their mailing list. I did and have been getting POP access ever since. Otherwise there is a program called YPOPS from http://ypopsemail.com/
For a few years now I've been using a program called Hotmail popper from fitsoft.com (site seems to be no longer active) to access my Hotmail. Its still active, my account that is.
Posted by: Terry Hollett at September 17, 2008 11:32 AM
I'm not very bright, and I can prove it. I still don't understand. For example what is POP3, etc.? Where can I find a book or something to explain these critters? I use whatever comes up when I click on mail.
I don't understand why my inbox for email on thunderbird program has nothing but "dots"....for everything......all characters, numerals, etc. If I hover the darker of emails(newer ones) it will tell me who sent the email....also can click on any row of dots to pull in the email for reading nicely.
Anyone else ever hear of such a problem?
Thanks for reading. Hope someone can help this great granny!!
Posted by: Bobbie Spiegel at October 13, 2008 8:04 PM
I have microsoft outlook express installed on my computer but have never really used it. I have comcast as my regular email provider, but recently when they upgraded to "smartzone", my email is automatically downloaded to outlook as soon as I read a message. I don't like it because I cannot access my old mail from another computer ie at work. This just started happening. How can I correct it so that email remains on my comcast account until I delete it, or put it in a folder etc.
Thanks
Posted by: brenda at October 31, 2008 5:29 AM
What are the comparisons between web-based email service and Outlook? I guess what I am asking is functionality wise what are the differences? I am new to computers in general and I am trying to be informed.
The specifics depend entirely on which web based service you're talking about. The biggest difference, though, is that with a desktop email program like Outlook your email is downloaded and stored on your PC, whereas with a web based program it remains on the service's webservers.
03-Oct-2009
Posted by: Angela at October 3, 2009 7:30 AM
Which of the two is safest for internet banking. I don't know whether to stick with Outlook Express, change to Windows live mail or use my Gmail account.
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Hi Leo
Another well explained article, thank you.
However, this reminds me of another question I sometimes wonder about:
If I'm using an email program to retrieve my mail; be it, Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail or whatever, the likes of Hotmail (for example) require me to log-in, I think, once in 30 days or my account gets marked for deletion.
Does using a program of this nature mean I *still* have to log-in via the Web once a month to avoid being 'marked', or does using the client 'overcome' this. e.g. If I *only* use my client to retrieve mail & do not log-in via the web, will my account get marked for deletion?
I hope that makes sense!
Thanks again.
p.s. I understand the whole 'marked for deletion' thing & Hotmail does not support POP3, but I wonder on the principle of it, regardless of the provider being used. (If they too employ a 'use it, or lose it' policy)
With Hotmail, for example, if you're using "officially supported" methods to access it via Windows Live Mail or with the Outlook Extender, I would assume you don't run the risk of some kind of inactivity deletion. Since other POP3 methods are not officially supported, I would not be surprised if you did need to login via the web every so often to keep the account active.
Other services, like GMail, Yahoo and so on ... it's unclear. I would hope that those that provide POP3 style access would take that as "activity", but it's never been made clear.
-Leo
FYI yahoo plus (yearly fee) gives you pop3.
Posted by: TMC at September 16, 2008 8:25 AMthe other advantage of using Outlook (or equivalent) is you only need internet connection for long enough to download/upload your mail.
Posted by: Alan at September 16, 2008 11:27 AMOnce downloaded, you can read at your leisure and compose replies, etc offline.
If you're in a location where you pay per minute for connection this can save you a few pounds. (or "bucks"!)
At least one ISP's mail cannot easily be exported to other mail programs. In my case, it is EarthLink mail. The downloaded mail can be exported in two ways: Earthlink Mailbox DAT file, for importing into another Earthlink Mailbox, or a CSV file for exporting to a completely different mail client. The problem with the latter (the CSV file) is that dates are not included. Therefore, when importing into another mail program, the messages are not organized by any recognizable order. I have complained several times to Earthlink about this, but apparently there is no interest in tweaking their export program to include dates.
Posted by: Clyde Reed at September 16, 2008 10:03 PMI have both a Hotmail and Yahoo account. Yahoo use to allow you to have POP access if you signed up for their mailing list. I did and have been getting POP access ever since. Otherwise there is a program called YPOPS from http://ypopsemail.com/
For a few years now I've been using a program called Hotmail popper from fitsoft.com (site seems to be no longer active) to access my Hotmail. Its still active, my account that is.
Posted by: Terry Hollett at September 17, 2008 11:32 AMI'm not very bright, and I can prove it. I still don't understand. For example what is POP3, etc.? Where can I find a book or something to explain these critters? I use whatever comes up when I click on mail.
26-Sep-2008
I don't understand why my inbox for email on thunderbird program has nothing but "dots"....for everything......all characters, numerals, etc. If I hover the darker of emails(newer ones) it will tell me who sent the email....also can click on any row of dots to pull in the email for reading nicely.
Posted by: Bobbie Spiegel at October 13, 2008 8:04 PMAnyone else ever hear of such a problem?
Thanks for reading. Hope someone can help this great granny!!
I have microsoft outlook express installed on my computer but have never really used it. I have comcast as my regular email provider, but recently when they upgraded to "smartzone", my email is automatically downloaded to outlook as soon as I read a message. I don't like it because I cannot access my old mail from another computer ie at work. This just started happening. How can I correct it so that email remains on my comcast account until I delete it, or put it in a folder etc.
Posted by: brenda at October 31, 2008 5:29 AMThanks
What are the comparisons between web-based email service and Outlook? I guess what I am asking is functionality wise what are the differences? I am new to computers in general and I am trying to be informed.
03-Oct-2009
Posted by: Angela at October 3, 2009 7:30 AM
Which of the two is safest for internet banking. I don't know whether to stick with Outlook Express, change to Windows live mail or use my Gmail account.
Posted by: Alice at June 22, 2010 12:45 AMTo post a comment on "What's the difference between using Outlook Express versus my ISP's email?", please return to that article's main page.