automatic email notification

kallu · 11-26-2004, 09:53 PM

Is there a utility other than biff/xbiff on linux which can notify me whenever an email arrives? For some reason, biff doesn't work as expected on my system.

Thanks.

hutuworm · 11-27-2004, 12:06 AM

The original notifier was a pair of Unix programs called biff(1) and comsat(8). The biff program is a front end that enables you to turn on the comsat service. When this service is on, the header of new mail will be dumped to your terminal as it arrived. This facility was designed for people using line-oriented programs on CRTs; it's not really a good idea in today's environment.

kallu · 11-27-2004, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hutuworm
The original notifier was a pair of Unix programs called biff(1) and comsat(8). The biff program is a front end that enables you to turn on the comsat service. When this service is on, the header of new mail will be dumped to your terminal as it arrived. This facility was designed for people using line-oriented programs on CRTs; it's not really a good idea in today's environment.

I agree. Thanks for your response. So, what is a good idea in today's GUI environments.