new mail indicator in Ubuntu

[neiljansons]

I'm not sure if this is a Ubuntu question or a Thunderbird question
By default Ubuntu comes with some other mail package but I wanted Thunderbird
But how do I get some sort of indicator in the panel (the equivalent of the system tray in windows) that tells me when I have new mail?
Thunderbird 2.0.0.23 on Ubuntu 9.10

[Soepstengel]

Install the FireTray extension in Thunderbird.

[neiljansons]

Thanks I will try that

[neiljansons]

Thanks I installed the FireTray extension. It is actually more complex than what I was after which was just a simple envelope in the panel (similar to the envelope in the system tray in Windows) when there is new mail.

The huge number that looks like a leaf from a calendar is informative but quite unintuitive.

But the biggest problem is that the number counts all unread email and doesn't ignore unread email in the junk and trash folders. To make it useful I have to make sure that I mark all items in the junk folder read when they come in and/or make sure that all items are marked as read before they go in the trash (yes manually deleting them should automatically mark them as read but rules that move stuff into the trash won't and nor does it when you select Tools | Delete mail marked as junk in folder).

Has anyone come across anything that works better than FireTray?