email accounts...

[cooprules]

I have...

-a mac at work

-a mac at home

-a pc at home

-an iPod at home

 

I have one home email account that I can access from any computer, home or at work (via the web) and even on the iPod. It seems that when certain computers receive an email to that account, other computers can't see it. Does anybody know if there's a way all computers can view the same emails? Does anybody understand what I'm even talking about? I'm confusing myself.

[DatHoser]

cooprules,

 

I'll try and guess at what might be going on. When you look at e-mail on one pc (which results in the rest not being able to see it afterwards), does that one pc download it from the server - basically, do you have a program like Outlook or Thunderbird that is set to retrieve the messages from you isp's server which results in them being removed from the isp's server? We have that setup with our Roadrunner account. I access it with a browser at work, but our home pc is set to download the messages when T-bird is started. Many times I've been looking at e-mail and my wife starts T-bird at home and pulls the rug out from under me, so to speak.

 

If this isn't it, there are much smarter members who will be able to help, I'm sure.

[Baldkin]

If you use a web based e-mail address or instruct your e-mail program to keep the e-mails on the server, you should be able to view them from any computer.

[cooprules]

DatHoser has explained the situation perfectly it seems. We had the PC first and just recently got the Mac and iPod. I have Outlook on the PC that I get email from. I just have the regular Mail program on my Mac. Can I change the settings in Outlook to leave the messages on the server so I can access them from anywhere? Even when go to my ISP website to get email, it shows no emails at all, even though I know I've gotten some recently. It seems the only way I see them this way is if I happen to get one during the time I'm logged on. Thanks for the help.

[Diskono]

Use IMAP instead of POP3, problem solved.

[DatHoser]

cooprules, glad to be of service!

 

Hopefully this is what you're looking for:

 

How to set Outlook Express to leave messages on the server.

[zurch1818]

Use IMAP instead of POP3, problem solved.

This is exactly what I was going to say. I know gmail has an IMAP option that will work with both Outlook and Thunderbird (instructions are found here.) Who do you run your email though? This is important, because each one has different servers that you must connect to in order for it to work.

[DuWayne Steurer]

If it's gmail, your problem is going to be that gmail only allows download to one mail client (unless you use recent mode), even if you do set the settings of your webmail to leave the message on the server.

[cooprules]

I did what DatHoser explained and just changed my Outlook settings on my PC. Seems to be working the way I want it to. Thanks. As far as what you other guys are saying, I also have a gmail account (with a different email address) but I wanted to make the change with my home email address. I imagine there's something you guys mean that I'm missing. I honestly don't understand the IMAP vs POP3 thing. I'm guessing you're saying I can route my ISP email account through a gmail account?

[zurch1818]

cooprules wrote:

I honestly don't understand the IMAP vs POP3 thing.

IMAP uses a server from the ISP. When you send an email, it uploads it on the server. When you recieve an email, your computer simply accesses the inbox on the server. You actually never physically download anything on any computer. This is why you can use IMAP on as many computers as you want. I use IMAP for my school email account with both Thunderbird and Outlook on the same computer.

 

At home, I set my dad's gmail account up through Outlook with both the upstairs computer and the downstairs computer. When an email is read downstairs, it will show up as being read upstairs (after the server is refreshed). When you send an email from the upstairs computer, it will show up in the sent box downstairs. It doesn't matter where you access your email because the server will always be up to date. If for whatever reason all your computers decide to crash, your email will be unaffected because it is stored on the server. I assume this is exactly what you want to do.

 

When starting my dad out with gmail, he did not want to mess with changing his Charter email address. I found the option to forward all new charter emails to his Gmail account. This ensured that all of his email would be in one spot. The only drawback to doing this was he could no longer send email through Charter.

 

For reference, POP3 is completely different. When you view your inbox, it physically downloads the email on that one computer. It will no longer be on the server. Now I am sure there are ways to keep it on the server, but I have never messed with it. IMAP is definitely my preference.