UTStarcom PPC-6700 / XV-6700 / HTC Apache

I currently have a sprint cell phone and a tmobile sidekick. I am trying to consolidate. I took a look at the Apache the other day at a sprint store and no one could answer my questions. Does anyone know if the email function of the apache is independent of web browser? By this I mean, on my sidekick I get email msgs sent to a screen and the device notifies me immediately. The emails can be read with out signing into a special program or browser.
My other concern is that my home computer is a Mac -Imac G5. Do I have any hope of being able to use this phone with a mac? Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!