email: web versus PC based?

[DavidUK]

What are the pros and cons of having web-based e-mail (e.g. Hotmail) compared to PC-based e-mail? Also, can anyone recommend a good ISP for PC-based e-mail? I was using Breathe just for my e-mail (not for surfing) but I have given up on it because I can't get it to work following their recent changes.

[gilf]

The main reason for web based would be that you can read it from any PC that has internet access. The cons would be that you need to make sure that the number of e-mails doesnt grow too big and you cant keep loads of old ones where as with PC based then you can store as many as you like.

[answerbok]

if you want say a freeware off the web, or to join a 'club', they often ask for your email; which could mean you'll get spam; if you use a webmail addy just for such events, it's like having a free recycle bin, and when it's too full, just get another they're free; the Yahoo ones are more user friendly than Microsoft's Hotmail which is a bit intrusive. [ask Alexa about MSN trix] Also you get free email addresses with your terrestrial isp; good to keep these for special and friends etc and don't reveal it on the net [or spam will ensue] I'm told BT isp disconnect you every 2 hours, and AoL is just a control freak. Freeserve put stuff in your registry without asking, some can be difficult to remove; Ukonline; you can join online, Onetel as well; those 2 get my vote but there are many other good ones. :-)

[smorodina]

With some web mail and some ips you can do both - view on line and download to your computer with outlook or something similar. So you can access the e-mails from any computer but still archive them easily at home.

[DavidUK]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds interesting smorodina - can you name any names?

[j2buttonsw]

I'm on NTLWorld and you can download mail by POP3 or view it as webmail.