newbie query

[Brian]

hmm, ok, i downloaded the yahoo messenger deb file from the yahoo site

what would be recommended for setting up chat ware that can access yahoo
users, as most or all of my contacts are using yahoo or msn and now i
feel left out, especially, cause i met a person recently and would
really like to be voice chatting with her as soon as i can....

sounds like there is got to be at least one program out of the 18000
that will do this and more.... 

thanks for this link www.packages.ubuntu.com
finding lots of stuff there, of course, no idea still how to get them to
install and work....

thanks for the time
Brian