Email to both pc and laptop - can I have both?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marjorie Proops
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Marjorie Proops

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If my main pc is set to auto search for incoming mail at say 5 minute intervals, and those messages are actually received by the pc - can I still download the same message from the laptop abroad?

In other words, is the email notification just that, a notification that the mail is still with my ISP but that the notification can go to both machines but, once downloaded, the other machine cannot download it as well?

Is it possible for both to download it, or can it be set up that one downloads it and then automatically (in my absence) forwards it to the laptop?

Thanks in advance :thumb2
 
I don't think you can do this without a proper mail server (like companies have) that uses "push" technology.

Best you can do without that, would be to shutdown Outlook (or set it for manual mail retrieval) before you leave.

If anyone knows different - I'd certainly benefit too :thumb2

[hang on - you could get your outlook at home to save all your in-mails and forward a copy to a Yahoo/Hotmail/Gmail account that you only access on the road? - that should work]

Al :D
 
If you are using outlook the messages are removed from the server and then can't be accessed from elsewhere.

I'm using googlemail now and the messages remain with google so they can be accessed from anywhere :thumb
 
I was with Blackal on this one, but it got me thinking...

I dont know if this is possible, but you might be able to set both the laptop and the pc identically and store your email on a portable drive

you'd only be able to use one system at a time, but it might mean you can use both.

bit of a messy solution though and if you loose the portable drive you loose all your email.
 
If my main pc is set to auto search for incoming mail at say 5 minute intervals, and those messages are actually received by the pc - can I still download the same message from the laptop abroad?

In other words, is the email notification just that, a notification that the mail is still with my ISP but that the notification can go to both machines but, once downloaded, the other machine cannot download it as well?

Is it possible for both to download it, or can it be set up that one downloads it and then automatically (in my absence) forwards it to the laptop?

Thanks in advance :thumb2

Assuming you have a POP3 account, there is an option in Outlook - Email Account Settings/More Settings/Advanced to "Leave a copy of messages on the server". Generally this option is not set by default, so email messages are downloaded to your local email store and then deleted from the server.

I assume this option exists in other Email software.

If you set this option on both Desktop/Laptop email messages will "download" to both local email files but also remain "on the server". Your ISP may have some policy in place that actually removes it after a certain time, or you may find your ISP has a mailbox limit which you may eventually hit. (There is software out there that can delete individual messages or remove large attachments from the server)

Your ISP may also offer an IMAP mailbox. If it does, that may be an easier option for the duration of your trip?

HTH
 
You can also set things to be forwarded so you can recieve them all over the place :)

I have mine from a POP3 forwarded to a Gmail account which I then have set up through push mail to my Blackberry- Oddly, even if I have Gmail notifier on the laptop when I'm working on it, I get emails on the BB first...'pushed' mail is quicker :nenau

You can also set up Gmail to go to Outlook BTW :thumb2
 
Assuming you have a POP3 account, there is an option in Outlook - Email Account Settings/More Settings/Advanced to "Leave a copy of messages on the server". Generally this option is not set by default, so email messages are downloaded to your local email store and then deleted from the server.

I assume this option exists in other Email software.

If you set this option on both Desktop/Laptop email messages will "download" to both local email files but also remain "on the server". Your ISP may have some policy in place that actually removes it after a certain time, or you may find your ISP has a mailbox limit which you may eventually hit. (There is software out there that can delete individual messages or remove large attachments from the server)

Your ISP may also offer an IMAP mailbox. If it does, that may be an easier option for the duration of your trip?

HTH

This post and others have got me thinking now.

I usually handle all my mail from my laptop, but leaving a copy on the server (Yahoo) would mean that I could set up my home PC the same, so that all my e-mails are available on that machine also............... :type

Interesting.............. :thumb

Al :D
 
IMAP is much better than POP3, and a lot of providers offer it these days, including GMAIL. In this age of virtual storage it makes sense to keep it all on their servers, and access it via a client from any system you use.

Just with BTInternet would get with the program...
 
IMAP is definitely the way to go. I can access my email from my IPhone, Laptop, PC or via Webmail. The best thing is I can access all my mail for the last three years or so from where ever I happen to be.

You have to have some confidence in your ISP or hosting company that they won't lose the mail through some mishap but you can always set your main desktop PC to save a copy as well.

Not all ISP's support IMAP - just mail their support desk and ask them and also ask them how much storage space they give you per mailbox. Have a look at 1and1.co.uk - they offer email with your own domain name for few quid a year.

I used to be in this game - running a web hosting and email company .....

Paul
 


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