You can get RSS readers for all platforms not just MacOS; I use one for my wiki and I find it very useful, whenever there is a change it pops up on my task bar. I guess if you have got some very specific application where you can't install additional RSS reader software then you will need to use e-mails but for everything else IMHO RSS is far better than email for this type of thing.
Arthur arthur@assys.net
On MacOS X 10.4 (Tiger), put the RSS feed on your bookmarks bar, and a little number will pop up when there are changes. Other RSS readers can be configured to put a number badge on its Dock icon. Compared to discovering you have email, switching to Mail, selecting the message, and reading it, either of these are MUCH simpler!
So let's see, rather than patching mediawiki to send me email, which is what I want, since I'm pretty much checking email all the time, it's easier to switch platforms.