I have seen a huge increase of e-mail problems with my clients. It seems many of the major e-mail providers (Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple, Google and AOL for example) have all had problems. Plus, the e-mail reading programs have also had trouble, forgetting user passwords and having other connection problems. It also seems the spammers have taken over email, making it a real bother to get important messages from the load of junk. We have become so dependent on these programs, when they break it causes lots of worry. Spam filters can help with the spam, but are not perfect. When people only had one device (usually a desktop computer) to get email, using a provider that offered a POP (Post Office Protocol) account was ok. but today, we have iPhones, iPads, laptop and desktop computers. POP mail is not designed to work with multiple devices.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol ) protocol is designed for multiple device emails. IMAP is more expensive for providers to offer, because the email is stored on the providers computers. With POP, was soon as you login, the unread email is downloaded to the device you login with, so syncing is difficult. However, there is no excuse for providers to not offer IMAP email, and for users to not use IMAP. Until a replacement for email is found IMAP email with good spam filtering and a system of filing and archiving the email is the way to go.
Am email inbox is not the place to store email. You need a system to file the important email, and to archive the old email. Having an in box with over 1,000 unread emails will strain your computer and your computer network to the breaking point. Having a filing system with more than 10,000 emails is dangerous. I see this all the time. Users with email like this are living on the edge of disaster. Email more than a year old that is not referenced often, should be archived and kept in a searchable database, keeping your email program footprint small and quick to find your important email.