I’m switching from Gmail to using Mozilla Thunderbird since I found out my webhost has IMAP installed. I don’t need all that space for email anyway. Here goes nothing:
- In Gmail, “Enable POP for all mail (even mail that’s already been downloaded)”
- When messages are accessed with POP, “archive Gmail’s copy“
- Read “Why wasn’t all my mail downloaded?“
- Configure Thunderbird for Gmail
- Leave Thunderbird open to download all my email from Gmail’s servers
- Setup Thunderbird for my server’s IMAP account
- Create an archive folder on my IMAP account, so I have someplace to move the email I download
- Set Gmail to forward email to my IMAP email account; disable POP email
- Add a nice theme and some extensions, then enjoy!
After settling in, I’ve created some filters that’ll be moving messages to more distinct folders. I’m feeling comfortable now.
I don’t want to say why I’m doing this switch. There’s pros and cons to using a webmail app (like Gmail), IMAP, and POP. Fortunately, with my host, I have all three options. SquirrelMail isn’t great, but if I absolutely can’t use Thunderbird, it gets the job done until I get to one of my computers. Then when I connect, everything is just the way it’s supposed to be in my email account. In any case, if I’m happy, that’s all that matters, right? 🙂
Oh yeah, Gmail? It’s not goodbye – it’s more like, see ya later…
