Originally Posted by
Booglebox
That's also how Thunderbird works
AFAIK. But in this day and age you should be using IMAP anyway.
No, Thunderbird has a full set of files/folders. Normally, it hides them in the User folder in the bowels of drive C, but they are there. There is a separate folder for each e-mail address, then separate ones within that for Inbox, Drafts, Sent, Trash, and any added folders the user sets up. Mine's got dozens. I also have a backup routine that creates a dated set of copies, just in case.
My diary is in a completely separate place (not run by Thunderbird anyway). That synchronises between PC, iPhone and iPad.
I don't use IMAP for most accounts because very often when out and about, there's no internet and no 3G connection. I like to have the mail and my diary available at all times. Accounts I only ever access from home are IMAP.