Gmail, push email and growl notifications?

[LNYMRKO]

Hi,

I have my iPhone setup for Gmail as an Exchange account. This allows push emails and notifications the moment they arrive, wether the app is open or not (even closed from the multi-tasking bar). I was wondering if there was a solution for this for OSX that anybody knows about? Possibly with a growl notification, without having to leave a mail app open all the time?

Due to Google's new privacy policy and my own paranoia I would prefer not to leave my preferred web browser Chrome logged into my Gmail account all the time either.

On a side note, I already have my Gmail calendar and contacts syncing with my Address Book/iCal, and I've had hit and miss results with the Google Notifier Toolbar app, and this really just opens up the gmail web version when a new mail comes in anyway..

Thanks!

 

[hakuin]

I use Notify, which sits in the menu bar, can check multiple accounts and works with Growl. The web site seems to show it is not free, but just click on "Buy Now" and follow the instructions to get it for free. I also use it with a Yahoo account.
http://vibealicious.com/apps/notify/

There is also Gmail Notifr. I have never used it but it says it also can be used with multiple accounts and it is also free.
http://ashchan.com/projects/gmail-notifr