I was just browsing the web for interesting applications that can be installed onto my new linux box, and came across CheckGmail. This is a very simple tool that places a Gmail icon on the top menu bar of Ubuntu, and displays a small pop-up message when a new message comes in. On hover over a window is displayed which shows the most recent emails. Very simple. You no longer need to open up a web browser and log into Gmail to see new mails.
Get it simply by: apt-get install checkgmail
So, if like me, you have set up a Linux box for web development projects and the like, but have not fully moved over to Linux, then this is a handy way to keep track or mails without having to set up your email accounts on Linux. Yet another reason to have a Google account!