Ryan,
You can turn off the beep for all emails and create a rule for non-proe
emails so that you get pop-up (create rule->"notify me using a specific
message"). I find it very effective. I'm only notified of important
emails and I check newsgroup emails at my leisure.
Matt
Design Engineer
Biomechanics
Hospital for Special Surgery
535 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021