Pidging client update fails on HP Mini

[HOWARD CUNNINGHAM]

My problem is "the pidgin client (2.4.3) installed on my HP Mini 1120NR
cannot connect to Yahoo Messenger". I believe that an update to 2.5.x would
resolve the problem. HP does not offer an upgrade to Pidgin. Here is the
debug log:
> Pidgin Debug Log : Fri 04 Sep 2009 07:58:52 AM EDT 
> (07:58:30) account: Connecting to account hlcunningham at bellsouth.net 
> (07:58:30) connection: Connecting. gc = 0x8490498 
> (07:58:30) dns: DNS query for 'scs.msg.yahoo.com' queued 
> (07:58:30) Session Management: Received first save_yourself 
> (07:58:30) dns: Created new DNS child 5827, there are now 1 children. 
> (07:58:30) dns: Successfully sent DNS request to child 5827 
> (07:58:30) Session Management: Received save_complete 
> (07:58:30) docklet: embedded 
> (07:58:30) dns: Got response for 'scs.msg.yahoo.com' 
> (07:58:30) dnsquery: IP resolved for scs.msg.yahoo.com 
> (07:58:30) proxy: Attempting connection to 76.13.15.34 
> (07:58:30) proxy: Connecting to scs.msg.yahoo.com:5050 with no proxy 
> (07:58:30) proxy: Connection in progress 
> (07:58:30) proxy: Connected to scs.msg.yahoo.com:5050. 
> (07:58:30) yahoo: 121 bytes to read, rxlen is 141 
> (07:58:30) yahoo: Yahoo Service: 0x57 Status: 1 
> (07:58:30) yahoo: yahoo status: 0 
> (07:58:34) util: Writing file prefs.xml to directory /home/howard/.purple 
> (07:58:34) util: Writing file /home/howard/.purple/prefs.xml 
> (07:58:34) util: Writing file accounts.xml to directory
/home/howard/.purple 

Here is what I have recently discovered about my problem.
1. HP calls the Ubuntu distro hardy-hpmini. Using this distro name I am not
able to update my Pidgin client from the PIdgin support site.
2. The Pidgin support site does offer an update for the Unbuntu 'hardy' but
the update manager on the HP Mini refuses to install an update for this
distro.

So my only recourse is HP Tech support. I wanted to let others know of this.

Thanks,

Howard Cunningham
4305 Birmingham Way 
Raleigh, NC 27604
Voice: +1 (919)250-9054
Mobile:+1 (919)632-6861