Vista - " View Pane" Question

Hello!
I have a very simple question and I can't believe I am having to ask it since I have been using email for so many years!
I am wondering if when I view my emails in the "view pane", if that email is the same as not opening it ?
Somewhere I picked up the idea that if you read your mail in the "view pane" it will keep you from receiving any viruses or trojans that may be attached to that email because reading your mail in " view pane" is not the same as opening an email to read it.
Was this false information or am I "safer" when I use the "view pane" to read my mail?
Thank you for debunking this information for me if it's just a myth because I have always thought I was protecting myself from viruses etc. by reading my mail this way.
Thank you so much.

Hi Sojourner,

View pane is safer. But if you have a good antivirus software on your system, it should be safe from infection. Be sure you have a scanner program that scans your emails when recieving and sending messages.

Hi Sojourner,

I'm not sure if view-pane is any safer. But if you have a good anti-virus and anti malware program that is up-to-date, you are probably safe. Be sure that you have a scanner program to scan incoming and outgoing messages.