How I use Gmail

gistfile1.txt

Settings > General > Maximum Page Size > Show [100] conversations per page

Go to Inbox.

Click email in bottom (oldest).

Arrow keys to read.

Choose Option 1 or 2...

Option 1) Deal with it on the spot.

a - Reply All
r - Reply
f - Forward
Tab, Enter - Send email after done typing

] - Archive email and go to next one.
e - Archive email and don't do anything else.

Option 2) Deal with it in the near future.

s - Star the email.
] - Archive email and go to next one.
v - Label and archive the email at the same time.
l - Only label the email.

Option 2 seems scary at first because you're Archiving an email you haven't yet dealt with.  But don't worry, you Starred it.

g, i - Go to Inbox
g, s - Go to Starred

Switch between Inbox and Starred.  Those are your two areas.  They should be relatively easy to keep clean.  When you go through your Inbox, always go all the way through it.  Reply on the spot, Star for later, or archive without a star to not deal with it later.

When you are done with a Starred email, hit s to unstar it, then ] to move on to the next Starred email.

c - Compose a new email. Use tab and the tab, enter trick above when done writing the email.