Unread mail on menubar without Mail running?

I know you can have the unread mail icon on your menubar while Mail's on.
But is there a program/plugin that will do the same thing WITHOUT Mail running?
Reason is I don't want to have mail run on start up as it slows down my start up quite a bit.

Thanks and regards,
wingk

Try using a notifier-type of app that sits in the menu bar. Here... take yer pick:
http://www.versiontracker.com/php/qs.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=mail+menubar&srchArea=macosx