I highly recommend using an e-mail client, if possible, to manage e-mail. I personally use a program called Thunderbird (now in it's 2nd generation, so T-bird 2 is what you're looking for)

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/

It was developed by the same company, called Mozilla, that makes Firefox. It is far faster, and easier to send receive and organize your e-mail. It will work on almost any e-mail address except hotmail (b/c Microsoft is basically bastards and they lock down all of their info so you can't use any program but theirs i.e..outlook express).

If anyone wants help configuring the program for their e-mail, shoot me a PM or e-mail me, and I will help you out however I can.