necro-X2!!! don't necro! it's soo annoying.
Since this thread is back up, Hexchat is a very nice client too.
Xchat is actually a little nicer then hexchat when you are on linux (and besides, I use xchat just on principle, what the hexchat guys were doing initially was kind of mean.)
jenn4:
1.Go at Freenodes webchat
2. Fill fields:
Nickname: Name you wan't IRC people use at you.
Channels: Channels you want to join. #powder is the usual chatting channel.
Don't check "Auth to services" box, yet.
Type Re-captcha code in field. Any special characters or numbers shouldn't be written. No matter with capital letters.
3. Gongratulations, you have gotten in IRC.
4. Type "/msg NickServ register " in the text field at bottom.
5. Go check your email and do what registeration email says.
When you next time login, check "auth to services" box and type your registered nickname and it's password.
After this you can just continue using webchat and look like a noob, or you can do what next steps tell you.
what will happen if i do not do step 4 & 5?