I have been waiting for a Linux alternative for Yahoo
Messenger that works.

Does that mean you couldn't get Skype working? It works for me...

i could not get the mic to work with Skype.

I have another computer with XP that I use only for Yahoo Messenger, now that I
installed the .deb file from Google and have been using it since yesterday, and
it works really well, that XP computer will not get much use now. This makes me
100% Linux.

Interesting. I've had nothing but grief regarding the microphone, until I
installed 10.04. Now it "just works."