The truth is using Ubuntu is not really a Breaze. People got indoctrinated over the years and Windows is the only thing they can associate with a computer. But if you put your mind to work and decide to mimic some similar Windows functionality , I can assure you , it's possible. In the end the stable / free version you will get will worth the long hours you put into it.

I personally believe this is the final frontier in front of Ubuntu dominance : tutorials , good ones so people don't have to waist time looking for something all day long.

LET'S GET TO WORK !
This tutorial will show you how to install Thunderbird ( the last stable release for Linux ) and how to configure the application do download all your Yahoo / Hotmail mail to your local inbox.

STEP 1 - Install ThunderBird 2.x

The Ubuntu repository is not really up to date when it comes with thirt party applications. We need to add the Thunderbird repository to our local list.

>> Open a Terminal
>> Add the repository's key to your system's list

wget http://ubuntu.iuculano.it/AE3BE9AA.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -




>> Open Synaptic Manager
>> Settings -> Repositories
>> Third party softwares

Add the following sources :
deb http://ubuntu.iuculano.it feisty thunderbird
deb-src http://ubuntu.iuculano.it feisty thunderbird
>> Close
>> Synaptic Manager - > Reload
>> Search for thunderbird
>> Mark for update

At the end you should have a shinny new Mozzila ThunderBird Mail Client.





STEP 2 - Creating some accounts and setting them right

After you setup one account you will have to install 2 addons.

I have configured 2 accounts and used as pop server settings :

localhost and for port one higher then 1024.

To install an addon on Tunderbird you have to save it as a local file the use the addons menu ( Tools -> Addons ) to specify the file.









STEP 3 - Installing Addon -> Webmail

You can find the official realease at this page : Web Mail. You have to download the files and install them.












STEP 4 - How to Configure Webmail

In the POP port textbox you can use a port higher the 1024 to make it active. After you restart the Thunderbird Client the green light should be turn on.

This is the port you have to configure in your accounts.







We can see not that the addon can connect to all this yahoo servers and send/gets commands that it translated for our Mail program.














You can log every actions in a text file in case you want to consult it at a later time.














This is it . You should have a fully functional program at this point.

I hope this guide will make you understand you have to power now ( with no cost what so ever ) do download all your emails in a single centralized place with no dependencies of yahoo or msn. They are not enabling this feature ( pop3 ) for free because then their visitor number will drop.

If you have any question (regarding this tutorial) drop a comment and I will find some time to help you.