EmailNotes.txt                                          01/24/14
                  Which Email Service Should I Use?
                  ---------------------------------

This discussion, and all the diagrams, are based on Leo Notenboom's article:
   http://askleo.com/how_do_i_deal_with_one_email_account_on_two_machines/

There are three basic choices:
   Browser-based ('Webmail')
   PC-based using POP3     Outlook Express, Thunderbird
   PC-based using IMAP     Windows Mail, Mail for Mac
   
 * 1. The choice is really between WebMail and a 'Mail Program' *
   
   2. WebMail is the simplest form of email service.    ****
      a. Mail is kept on the server, 'in the cloud'
      b. Don't need any software, just your Web Browser.
      c. Several excellent free services available.
      d. Service takes care of backup and archiving.
      e. Can access from any Internet connection, any computer.
      -  Most services have a storage limit.
      
   3. PC-based mail is more complex.
      a. Mail is kept on your PC 
      b. Requires a separate mail program
      c. may be oriented more toward commercial use.
      d. requires the user to be responsible for maintenance.
          * Allow you to set up your own filing system.
          * Require you to set up your own filing system.
      e. requires synchronization between devices.
      
      PC-based POP mail is the oldest form of email.
      All email services have some storage limit.

Terminology:
------------
A "Mailbox Provider" is any organization that accepts, stores,
   and offers access to "email messages" for end users.  Such an organization has typically implemented SMTP and might provide access to messages through the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), the Post Office Protocol (POP), or a proprietary interface designed for HTTP.

Internet Protocols:
   SMTP  Simple Mail Transfer Protocol       1980
   HTTP  HyperText Transfer Protocol         1982
   POP   Post Office Protocol                1984
   IMAP  Internet Message Access Protocol    1986 Stanford
Proprietary Protocols:   
   Microsoft Exchange
   Lotus Notes
   
Webmail (or web-based email) is any email client implemented through a web
   browser. Examples of webmail providers include AOL Mail, Gmail, Outlook.com and Yahoo! Mail.


Email Timeline:
---------------
   Email actually started with PC Programs and has progressed to WebMail as the technology became available to support it!
   
1970's: Original ARPANET:  no Web, no Dial-up, no "on-line"
      Mail was sent by FTP.  PCs did not exist.
1980: Internet replaces ARPANET
      SMTP replaces FTP for email.
1980-83:
   1981: First IBM PC, using floppy disks.
   Corporate email systems over LANs, including
      LANtastic, WordPerfect, MS Mail, LOTUS Notes
   No web standard beyond SMTP.   
1984:
   Apple II and PC running from tape and floppy disks
   POP: "simple support for download-and-delete mailbox"
1988: 
   Eudora offers corporate SMTP, POP, and IMAP service.
   IMAP replaces POP for large clients.
   MCI Mail becomes first commercial use of email.   
1989: 
   First dial-up internet service begins, under DOS.
   ** Dial-up ties up both your phone line and  your PC! **

1992:
   Windows 3.1
1993:
   MIME standardizes message content
   MIME = Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions   
1994-5:
   Windows 95 
   HTTP: Webmail developed in Europe and US     
2001:  Windows XP
   40% of home users have dial-up access
    6% have broadband
2013:  Windows 8
    3% still use dial-up 
   70% have broadband  
   


Things to Note:
---------------
   Dial-up is basically a sporadic connection - get your data, then hang up.
   Broadband tends to be a continuous connection.  
   ** Webmail doesn't work very well over Dial-up!! **
    
   So...  1. Mail programs came first, during the dial-up days. 
          2. WebMail came later, when we got broadband.

Where do the emails live?
   Mail Programs keep mail on the client's computer or server
      The user is responsible for saving, cataloging, archiving, ...
      Contact/Address lists are on user's system.
   Webmail keeps mail on the ISPs server  ... in the 'cloud' ...
      The ISP provides archiving/backup services
      Contact/Address lists are on ISP's server.      

Making Email More Complicated:
   1. Dial-up connections
         Too slow/sporadic for webmail.
   2. Multiple computers
         Need to use WebMail or synchronize.
   3. Multiple email accounts for same user
         Different ISPs have different features/formats
   4. Multiple email users on same account
         How do you separate them out?   Use separate accounts. 
         
The Bottom Line:
----------------
1. Neither WebMail nor Email Programs are new, but Webmail is newer.

2. Before, say, 2005 WebMail wasn't really practical, because Dial-Up!

3. For an individual user, the simplest choice today is WebMail

4. The three main WebMail services:
      Gmail, from Google
      Outlook.com, from Microsoft   
      Yahoo Mail, from Yahoo
      
Dan Covill, 2014