FAQs to Help Compare E-mail Clients

There are many mail software programs you can use to receive and send e-mail. Which is best for you? The answers to the following questions may help you decide.

Q – What are the different types of mail clients that C&IT supports?
Q – What are the distinctive features of each?
Q – Two of us use the same computer. Is there a way that we can keep our e-mail private?
Q – I read some mail at home and some in my office. Is there a way I can keep my mail organized?
Q – I dial in to the server from my home. Which software can I use to minimize connect time?
Q – How long is mail kept on the WSU mail server? Will that affect my choice?
Q – My unit has its own computer support group. Should I check with them before I decide?
Q – In the past I have had problems with my mail disk getting full. Do you have any suggestions?

Q – What are the different types of mail clients that C&IT supports?

The Computing & Information Technology (C&IT) Help Desk supports the following:

—Webmail (Web-based e-mail) at webmail.wayne.edu
—POP Mail (Post Office Protocol)
—IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

Q – What are the distinctive features of each?

Webmail – Web-based e-mail that you can access from any Web browser. When you use Webmail, the mail remain on the server until you delete it.

POP Mail – Mail is downloaded off the server and onto your personal computer. You can read your mail and prepare new messages while disconnected from the server.

IMAP – Mail is "left" on the server. The mail client connects to the server and makes a copy of headers, messages, or parts of messages you select. You can disconnect from the server to work with messages and folders. When you reconnect, it resynchronizes the messages and folders on your computer with those on the mail server.

Q – Two of us use the same computer. Is there a way that we can keep our e-mail private?

Yes, use mail software that doesn't take the mail off the server. Webmail or an IMAP mail client are good choices.

Q – I read some of my e-mail at home and some at Wayne State. Is there a way I can keep my mail organized?

When you use two computers, one of the ways to keep mail organized is to designate one computer as your primary place for mail and the other as your secondary location. Organize your mail in folders at the primary site. At the secondary location use a mail client, such as Webmail or IMAP, that keeps the mail on the server. OR, if you use a POP mail client, use the "leave mail on server" option.

Q – I dial in to the server from my home. Which type of mail client can I use to minimize connect time?

With both POP or IMAP you can work with your e-mail but only connect to the server when you want to send or receive mail.

On the other hand, Webmail must remain open all the time you work with your mail.

Q – How long is mail kept on the WSU mail server? Will that affect my choice?

Mail is "left" on the server indefinitely. Your disk space is limited, however; so you may want to consider where the mail client stores mail:
  • With Webmail your mail is always "left" on the mail server.
  • With IMAP you can leave your mail on the mail server or download it.
  • With POP your mail is downloaded off the mail server onto your computer (unless you set "Leave mail on server").

Q – My unit has its own computer support group. Should I check with them before I decide?

Yes, check with your local computer support group. By using software they support, you are more likely to be using the same software your co-workers or fellow students are using. That way you can help each other with problems. Also you are more likely to get help from your local computer support person.

Q – In the past I have had problems with my mail disk getting full. Do you have any suggestions?

Read our warning regarding losing AccessID e-mail when the allotted disk space fills. It has suggestions to prevent your disk from filling.
  • Be careful using Webmail or an IMAP client because they leave your mail on the server.
    • Don't save every message you receive.
    • Don't save copies of every message you send.
  • Use filters so that mail sent to you from mailing lists automatically goes into special folders, sort the mail in those folders, and delete messages often.
  • Be careful using the "Leave mail on server" selection with POP mail or an IMAP client.