Solo Technology

I’m looking for a nice solid “clean” usenet reader. Know any that you’d suggest? Has “web 2.0″ found this segment yet?

For many years, I was a huge fan of Forte’ Agent. It did everything I needed and it did it well. Initially I used the free version, but it wasn’t long before I purchased the full version and diligently upgraded over the years. Problem is… I don’t like it anymore. The last major upgrades just changed the “feel” of it. Maybe it needs a “Classic View” or something. Anyways, after the last upgrade I slowly drifted away from my beloved usenet groups (granted, some were dying anyways).

Google Groups is a great way to search usenet posts, but as a daily reader it pretty much blows. And really, that’s all that needs to be said for that option. While I wouldn’t mind finding a decent web based reader, this isn’t the one.

Microsoft’s Outlook Express will do in a pinch, but I’m not quite ready for that pinch. That’s getting just a bit too barbaric for me. Certainly serviceable though.

I tried Xnews earlier today. I’m not positive, but I believe it is one that I’ve had suggested to me several times over the years. While I loved the fact that it is self-contained (seems like it would run great from a USB drive) I just didn’t care for the interface. The discussion threading seemed odd, somehow. Couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I just wasn’t digging it.

I suppose next I might see if there are any web apps that I could install. Or maybe I’ll check for linux options (heh. my first *nix reader was slrn.) Anyone want to share a favorite reader? I’m open to ideas at this point.

5 Responses to “Wanted: Usenet Reader”

1. Rich G. on July 6th, 2006 6:12 am
   

   I totally agree about Agent. Since when do you actually NEED all that work to right click-save attachments? Now you gotta fly-out menu to tell it to save it to the default directory? What the heck? Whoever decided that was just not thinking clearly IMO. It went from the perfect reader for me to the one I am using until I can replace it.

   Thunderbird does passing well, and I’ll use it before OE, but neither one does binaries worth a flip. OE does them badly, and Thunderbird does them not at all, and I just don’t like the feel of Thunderbird… as much as it feels like OE, it doesn’t have the ‘View Replies to my Posts’ that OE has so I don’t use it either much.

   I’m down to some weird, google groups, agent, thunderbird mix right now depending on what I feel like putting up with that day. I’m tempted to downgrade agent and go back to it, but I too have wandered away from usenet, as you know. The golden age has passed IMO, and while I blame it on the interface, were it not for the binaries there’s very little to keep me going back to usenet any more.

2. Vox on July 6th, 2006 1:49 pm
   

   There’s only one: GNUS

   You need to have emacs installed, of course, and you need to learn elisp to configure it, of course, but…there’s nothing at all that you can’t do with gnus.

3. chris on July 6th, 2006 7:22 pm
   

   Hrmm… suppose it’s time I gave Thunderbird a second look. I recall trying it several years back. I believe I was underwhelmed… but maybe things have come along.

   I also heard something about an Outlook Express beta that maybe I should try and track down.

   And Vox, you just KNOW I ain’t gonna do anything with emacs involved! :-p Good grief man, I’m vi. sheesh. Don’t make me feel dirty.

4. » pingback » Usenet Reader Quest - followup &raquo Solo Technology on July 24th, 2006 8:58 pm
   
   
5. Nicolas on March 19th, 2008 9:08 am
   

   Binaries are a usenet abuse.

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