[Spambayes] Outlook plug-in vs. other methods

[Tony Meyer]

> If I use Outlook 2000 and wish to use SpamBayes,
> is the plug-in my only option or is there another way?

If you get your mail from POP3, you can use sb_server instead.  If you get
your mail from IMAP4, you can use sb_imapfilter instead (this involves
running from source).  If you use Exchange, you have no option; if you use
Hotmail, then you'd have to get the Hotmail mail via some sort of POP/IMAP
gateway.

> If yes, what are the pros and cons of each?

Most importantly, you should get the same filtering results with any of the
applications.

The plug-in is an integrated solution.  In almost all cases you'd want to
use this rather than the less integrated solutions.  You get training via
drag-and-drop, training within the mail application (rather than via the web
interface), simpler configuration, a setup wizard, the ability to (easily)
filter/rescore mail already in the client, and the plug-in takes care of
moving messages for you.

I can't think of any reason that you'd want to use sb_imapfilter instead of
the plug-in.

You could use sb_server if you wanted to be able to do training remotely
(via the web interface).  The only other reason I can think of is that the
plug-in just didn't work on your system - sb_server has a simpler job to do,
and so is likely to.  However, it'd still be better to report the problem
and use the plug-in when it's fixed.  sb_server does get slightly 'cleaner'
mail than the plug-in (Outlook mucks about with it before the plug-in gets a
chance), but I don't believe that anyone's found that to actually have any
effect.

Can anyone think of any others?

(Note that none of this should be taken as criticism of sb_server or
sb_imapfilter or the web interface - I believe they do a good job; the
advantages all come of the tight integration with the mail client).

=Tony Meyer

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