sync Gmail between iMac and Macbook

I use Apple mail on both iMac and Macbook with all my other mail accounts, I use POP and put a thirty day deletion on the mail account. This means as long as I log in once a month on both machines and download my mail the accounts are in sync.

However this just doesn't work with Google mail, it neither deletes the mail from the server and it only downloads once onto the first mac to log into mail.

My question is this how do I set up gmail to allow both machines to see the mail and ideally leave the mail on the server (don't mind if I only keep 30 days or so)? So do I need to use IMAP for this?

alimack

Posted 2010-02-18T13:35:22.857

Reputation: 527

Answers

IMAP will be the way to go for this. Since changes made to the e-mail are reflected only on the server, this guarantees each client will see the mailbox exactly the same way. Trust me, get away from POP as soon as possible. The Server-Client Relationship in IMAP, instead of the pull and disconnect in POP, is a much superior system for most users.

With Gmail, I know there are various settings that change what Gmail does when mail is accessed from a client:

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Here is a good breakdown on the advantages over POP that IMAP brings to the table:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Message_Access_Protocol#Advantages_over_POP

You may want to check that in your Gmail settings online, but I fully recommend you move to IMAP since you are using more than one client. It is just a better system, and cleaner too.

Urda

Posted 2010-02-18T13:35:22.857

Reputation: 843

I think you're probably right, I shall give IMAP a go when I get a chance - will report back. – alimack – 2010-02-18T15:04:29.470

It seems to work very well and is in fact easier to set up than POP mail. Thanks. – alimack – 2010-02-19T20:02:59.257

Simply go to gmail.com and read your email there. It's as simple as that. No IMAP or POP settings required.

Keep it simple...

r0ca

Posted 2010-02-18T13:35:22.857

Reputation: 5 474

I've got 4 different mail accounts - having them all in one place is a definite advantage. – alimack – 2010-02-18T15:04:01.377

@alimack, I also have several accounts and manage all using a single Gmail account. Works like a charm! – Erick Sasse – 2010-02-18T15:56:19.337

+1. I also use Apple's Mail but mostly for backup and saving battery eventually. Gmail can handle all your other POP accounts much better. Make your backups, keep them running in parallel and give it a try - use the gmail interface first and daily. – cregox – 2010-02-18T16:01:52.740

My wife won't use the gmail interface - she finds the webmail clunky. So it won't suit for all cases. I like to have the e-mail downloaded, as it's useful to access my amil via Apple Mail. However I will try the gmail for work, where I have internet access but don't want to download an e-mail client. – alimack – 2010-02-19T20:02:00.163