GREAT NEWS EVERYONE. Looks like hotmail is allowing POP3 access now. It is very well hidden and not advertised at all. But I found it here. I configured thunderbird and it works directly with hotmail. Add-ons are not necessary.
https://account.live.com/HelpCentral.aspx?mkt=en-us&productkey=wlhotmail
Add your e-mail account to Microsoft Outlook Express
You can use a POP3 (POP3, or Post Office Protocol 3, is a protocol that's used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server.) server to add your Windows Live Hotmail account to Microsoft Outlook Express and access messages there.
Use a POP3 server to add your Windows Live Hotmail account to Outlook Express
1. In Outlook Express, click the Tools menu, and then click Accounts.
2. Click Add, and then click Mail.
3. Type your name, and then click Next.
4. Type your full Windows Live Hotmail e-mail address, and then click Next.
5. Enter the following information, and then click Next:
* In the My incoming mail server is a box, click POP3.
* In the Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP, or HTTP) server box, type pop3.live.com.
* In the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server box, type smtp.live.com
6. Type the account name and the password for your Windows Live Hotmail account. Clear the Remember password check box unless you're the only person with access to the computer. Make sure that the Log on using Secure Password Authentication (SPA) check box isn't selected.
7. Click Next, and then click Finish.
8. In the Internet Accounts window, click the Mail tab, click the Windows Live Hotmail account that you added, and then click Properties.
9. Click the Advanced tab, and under Server Port Numbers, enter the following information, and then click OK:
* In the Incoming mail (POP3) box, type 995.
* In the Outgoing mail (SMTP) box, type 25.
* Under both Outgoing mail (SMTP) and Incoming mail (POP3), select the This server requires a secure connection (SSL) check box.
10. Click Close.
Use Windows Live Mail as your e-mail program
To download and install Windows Live Mail, see Install and run Windows Live Mail for the first time.
To add a Windows Live Hotmail account to Mail, see Add an e-mail, newsgroup, or contacts directory account.
Notes
* You may be able to receive mail from a POP3 server with other e-mail programs. To determine if your e-mail program allows this, contact the manufacturer of your e-mail program.
* Internet Explorer includes Outlook Express. To download the latest version of Outlook Express, go to the Windows Internet Explorer website, and then download the latest version of Internet Explorer.
