After spending an hour trying to figure this out, I landed here. All the messages I find on this topic are from 2007-2008. Now that it's 2009, has Google addressed this issue? I want to read my emails from oldest to newest.

Also, is there a way to read an email, delete it, and then go directly to the next email without having to return to the inbox first?

Now I have no clue how I'll see any answer posted here! Geez, this is so frustrating.

1. Not as far as I know
2. You can archive and go to the next message by pressing [
There isn't yet a shortcut for delete and next

<< I want to read my emails from oldest to newest. >>

Search for is:unread, go to the oldest message and then click on "newer" or type "k".