It wasn’t until I started fiddling around with a Microsoft Surface RT that I found a huge feature hole that will keep many, if not most, Internet users from getting full value from this new tablet model.
That huge hole is the inability of the Surface RT to work with Internet mail sites using POP3 (post office protocol) for email. In other words, if you use an Internet service provider that delivers email using POP, you won’t be able to get your email that way.
The fact is, when a customer shells out six hundred bucks for a slick new tablet, only to find out that they can’t use it for email, there’s a very high likelihood that they’ll pack it back into the box, head for the Microsoft store and ask for their money back. The customer’s next stop could very well be to the Apple store to buy an iPad, which does work with POP3 Internet email.
I can’t say that Microsoft is keeping this inability to work with the single most common email delivery system a secret, because it’s not. If you happen to check on the Microsoft website you’ll find out that the Surface and Windows 8 do not support POP. There’s even a list of workarounds you can use.
Unfortunately, most people don’t think to check this until they’ve already bought their device and are trying to set it up.
It is possible that many Windows 8 users will not notice since they probably aren’t using the Windows 8 mail app anyway. Those people with full computers are likely using Outlook or they’re using a third-party email client such as Thunderbird. When they upgraded from Windows 7, the email app stuck around, and they’ve probably never even tried the Windows Mail app.
You don’t have that option in Windows RT (the Windows version designed for ARM based tablets). There are no third-party email apps that support POP. Instead, your only choice for an email app is Windows Mail. Microsoft helpfully suggests you switch your internet email to IMAP (Internet mail access protocol) or EAS (Exchange ActiveSync) mailboxes. This is a nice idea, but most of the ISPs I could find don’t offer either one of those.
Page: 1 2
Security vendor Flashpoint debuts partner programme following $28m funding
Complex buying journeys and sprawling partner networks hampering customer experience, says Accenture
Datacentre provider Cyxtera says launch is “milestone in our go-to-market strategy”
Ensono highlights importance of mainframes still to major industries
Security vendor VASCO looks to replicate UK and German set up across EMEA
Splunk details investment in Partner+ programme at .conf2017
View Comments
Offering a tablet (basically whose sole function is to surf the web and read email) WITHOUT the ability to READ email is pretty much like making a sports car than can only run in first gear.
Pop3 is the reason I ditched hotmail. Everythig in the world except Microsoft uses IMAP. I guess that Windows thing/machine doesn't support IMAP either?
Windows Surface supports IMAP and Exchange ActiveSync (EAS). According to Microsoft: "almost all, if not most, POP-based email systems also provide IMAP access. I would suggest checking with your e-mail provider to see if they can provide IMAP settings".
IMAP is the preferred protocol for email, as it facilitates a synchronized experience for the user.
Lack of POP3 support is the least of the worries for the Surface.