2 @node Reading Mail, Calendar/Diary, Sending Mail, Top
7 XEmacs provides several mail-reading packages. Each one comes with
8 its own manual, which is included in each package.
10 The recommended mail-reading package for new users is VM. VM works
11 with standard Unix-mail-format folders and was designed as a replacement
14 XEmacs also provides a sophisticated and comfortable front-end to the
15 MH mail-processing system, called @samp{MH-E}. Unlike in other
16 mail programs, folders in MH are stored as file-system directories,
17 with each message occupying one (numbered) file. This facilitates
18 working with mail using shell commands, and many other features of
19 MH are also designed to integrate well with the shell and with
20 shell scripts. Keep in mind, however, that in order to use MH-E
21 you must have the MH mail-processing system installed on your
24 The @dfn{Everything including the kitchen sink} package @samp{Gnus} is
25 also available as an XEmacs package. Gnus also handles Usenet articles
28 @samp{MEW} (Messaging in the Emacs World) is another mail-reading
29 package available for XEmacs.
31 Finally, XEmacs provides the Rmail package. Rmail is (currently)
32 the only mail reading package distributed with FSF GNU Emacs, and is
33 powerful in its own right. However, it stores mail folders in a
34 special format called @samp{Babyl}, that is incompatible with all
35 other frequently-used mail programs. A utility program is provided
36 for converting Babyl folders to standard Unix-mail format; however,
37 unless you already have mail in Babyl-format folders, you should
38 consider using Gnus, VM, or MH-E instead.