I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Sam

Sambo145 wrote:
I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Sam


Mozilla Thunderbird or Forte Agent are good. I like Thunderbird.

You can also access rec.woodworking through the web at groups.google.com

Steve

On 04 Feb 2005 02:03:19 GMT, ospam (Sambo145) wrote:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Sam
----------------
Sure. Use your browser with Google Groups:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/.../threads?gvc=2

ospam (Sambo145) wrote in
:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several
years. Now they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if
anyone knew of a "simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying
the group. Thanks in advance.

If you just want to lurk, Google is simple. If you want to post, then
don't try to use Google. For some historical reasons, many of us filter
Google-sourced posts. You'll only be seen by a portion of the wReck
populace.

I use xNews as a reader. It's not perfect, but the threading is
reasonable, the filtering is as good as I need, binaries are handled pretty
well and the price is, well, free.

Check the recent past (archives) for free or reasonable newsfeed(s) to suit
your requirements.

Patriarch

Sambo145 wrote:
I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Sam
Mozilla is a good choice because it gives you mail,news,web,chat and is
free and stable.

In article ,
Sambo145 wrote:
I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

The answer depends on what O/S you're using.

There are 'dedicated' newsreader programs (that's *all* they do), and there
are 'multifunction' programs that will read news as one of their capabilities.

a partial list:

multifunction programs, available on multiple platforms:
Netscape
Mozilla
"Thunderbird", also from Mozilla,org
Outlook/Outlook Express (*NOT* recommended, tho some people like it)

For UNIX, and look-alikes, like the LINUX derivatives:

trn
slrn
xrn
knode

For MacOS:

Thoth


For MS-Windows:

Free Agent (from Forte Systems)
Forte Agent (a 'pay for' upgraded version of free agent)
MicroPLanet Gravity



For more than you could possibly want to know, do a google search
on "newsreader software"

"Sambo145" wrote in message
...
I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years.
Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of
a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks
in
advance.

I use Outlook Express. It's a piece of crap.

It was already on my machine and I've been too lazy/busy to install anything
better. I'm watching for a concensus here...

- Owen -

On 04 Feb 2005 02:03:19 GMT, ospam (Sambo145) wrote:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

agent is really good. they have a free version. also mozilla thunderbird will do
though I have never tried it with newsgroups.
http://tinyurl.com/4l0p
http://www.mozilla.org/


--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

Owen Lawrence wrote:
"Sambo145" wrote in message
...

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years.

Now

they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of

a

"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks

in

advance.


I use Outlook Express. It's a piece of crap.

It was already on my machine and I've been too lazy/busy to install anything
better. I'm watching for a concensus here...

- Owen -


Mozilla Firefox for a browser. Mozilla Thunderbird for
e=mail and a news reader. Lots more protection than MS
software and more stable. Costs nothing! Installs easily.
Keep your outlook (you have to use it for other stuff) and
MS worked it out so that Firefox couldn't be used for MS
updates.

If you want a simple newsreader with limited usefulness but simple to just
read text Outlook express is it. A lot of people on the newsgroups just hate
it (limited capabilities)but the others newsreaders can sometimes feel to
complex for people who are used to the handholding that AOL gives.I use
Xnews,and free agent and outlook express( different news reader for
different groups type)The best advice it to try some and see which one feels
best to you.

len

On their home page you will find the link for Thunderbird - it makes a
great newsreader.
http://www.mozilla.org/

You can also get spoofstick for your Mozilla or MS Internet Virus Explorer
http://www.realtimecredentials.com/spoofstick/

It shows your current URL. Makes it harder to get "Phished".


Sambo145 wrote:
I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Sam

--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 07:28:52 GMT, Nate Perkins
wrote:

(Sambo145) wrote in
:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several
years. Now they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if
anyone knew of a "simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying
the group. Thanks in advance.

Sam

Xnews. Easy to use. Good filtering.

=================================
Not sure if AOL is truely in fact going to cut off newsgroups...seems
to me I read it was a false alert....

But even my wife who does have an AOL account uses Forte Free
Agent as her news reader... since it handles AOL's newsgroups a heck
of a lot better then AOL own software...

That said... I use Firfox for web browsing...its free and much better
then the browser Bill Gates wants us all to use...... Eudora (paid
edition) for e-mail ...just to good for someone wh gets 100's of
e-mails daily some personal some from mailing lists ...and I have been
using Free Agent (the free version of Agent) to read newsgroups... for
years and honestly I like it...

I may have to subscribe to a news service shortly however as my
wonderful Cable company no longer carries the Chevelle newsgroup
which is a major problem since I am restoring one... Xnews is the
service that I was recomemnded to pay for...understand it is cheap but
complete...

Bob Griffiths..

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 07:28:52 GMT, Nate Perkins
wrote:

(Sambo145) wrote in
:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several
years. Now they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if
anyone knew of a "simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying
the group. Thanks in advance.

Sam

Xnews. Easy to use. Good filtering.
===================
Sorry really screwed up....I have been told to subscribe to
Tera News..
not Xnews which is a reader not a service... sorry I should have been
awake by now...

Bob Griffiths

On 04 Feb 2005 02:03:19 GMT, ospam (Sambo145) wrote:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Free Agent

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 08:07:10 -0500, Will
wrote:

On their home page you will find the link for Thunderbird - it makes a
great newsreader.
http://www.mozilla.org/

Looks like it might be -- if I could ever get the darned thing to
work.

I spent about an hour playing with it last night and I couldn't even
get the 'junk' button ungrayed, never mind setting up the filters.

The documentation on its newsreader functions is sparse and unhelpful
as well.

--RC (who currently uses mozilla for mail and Free Agent as a
newsreader)


"Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells
'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets
fly with a club.
-- John W. Cambell Jr.

Get Agent. There's a pay version and a free version.

Both are available at www.forteinc.com


On 04 Feb 2005 02:03:19 GMT, ospam (Sambo145) wrote:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Sam

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 08:07:10 -0500, Will
wrote:

On their home page you will find the link for Thunderbird - it makes a
great newsreader.
http://www.mozilla.org/

Looks like it might be -- if I could ever get the darned thing to
work.

I spent about an hour playing with it last night and I couldn't even
get the 'junk' button ungrayed, never mind setting up the filters.

The documentation on its newsreader functions is sparse and unhelpful
as well.


I played with Thunderbird for a while too and decided it was not worth the
effort. It does have some nice features that OE does not have, but for me
they just didn't outweigh some of the other peculiarities of it. I'm past
the point where diddling with software packages like this is fun, so I lost
interest after a short time. I'm still using Firefox, but probably only for
a short time. It's much slower than IE, and although I can't really prove
it, it seems to have a memory leak of some major proportions. I've checked
for patches or updates, but there are none on the Mozilla site. I'll
probably just go back to IE and its shortcomings.
--

-Mike-

"Sambo145" wrote in message
...


"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks
in

Hi! My name is Patrick and I use Outlook Express! gasp!


All I do is read and post. I like the fact that it does this very well. I
like the message retrieval and the ability to displace pictures. I don't
need and don't use any other features...

George E. Cawthon wrote:

Mozilla Firefox for a browser. Mozilla Thunderbird for e=mail and a
news reader. Lots more protection than MS software and more stable.
Costs nothing! Installs easily. Keep your outlook (you have to use
it for other stuff) and MS worked it out so that Firefox couldn't be
used for MS updates.

Why use 2 products when 1 will do - Netscape 7.2? One app to install,
does email and newsgroups from the same screen and is Mozilla
internally, and is also free.

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 09:39:20 -0700, John DeBoo wrote:
George E. Cawthon wrote:

Mozilla Firefox for a browser. Mozilla Thunderbird for e=mail and a
news reader. Lots more protection than MS software and more stable.
Costs nothing! Installs easily. Keep your outlook (you have to use
it for other stuff) and MS worked it out so that Firefox couldn't be
used for MS updates.

Why use 2 products when 1 will do - Netscape 7.2? One app to install,
does email and newsgroups from the same screen and is Mozilla
internally, and is also free.

Well, Netscape doesn't have killfile support, last I knew. Usenet without
killfiles is like a web browser without a popup blocker.

(Robert Bonomi) wrote in
:

For more than you could possibly want to know, do a google search
on "newsreader software"

Actually, for more than you could want to know, but organized in a
more useful manner, look at www.newsreaders.com

Reviews of various readers, sorted by platform, with links to their
download sites when available.

John

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 08:22:04 -0700, Wes Stewart
wrote:

On 04 Feb 2005 02:03:19 GMT, ospam (Sambo145) wrote:

I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

Free Agent

Agent is the standard newsreader, but Free Agent has some significant
drawbacks. Notably it doesn't have filters (or spell check, but that's
less of an issue.)

When you download the program you get a fully functional version of
Agent, but after 30 days it reverts to Free Agent.

OTOH if you like the way Agent/Free Agent does things, it's worth
springing for the $30 or so for the full version.

--RC

"Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells
'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets
fly with a club.
-- John W. Cambell Jr.

"Owen Lawrence" wrote in
:

I use Outlook Express. It's a piece of crap.

It was already on my machine and I've been too lazy/busy to install
anything better. I'm watching for a concensus here...

Doubt you'll get a consensus. XNews is very good, and free (I use
it). Other popular free readers are Free Agent, Gravity, and Dialog.
Being free, you could try them all.

John

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 15:45:23 GMT, "patrick conroy"
wrote:



Hi! My name is Patrick and I use Outlook Express! gasp!


I'm sorry

I have been using agent for quite a while but the secret is in configuring it
to your taste. You can change just about anything that ****es you off and set
just about any function to a "button" on the tool bar.
There are still options I haven't tried 5 years later.

Sambo145 wrote:
I am a routine lurker at the wreck and have used aol for several years. Now
they are doing away with newsgroups and I was wondering if anyone knew of a
"simple" reader that I could use to continue enjoying the group. Thanks in
advance.

I guess the questions are 1) Are you dropping AOHell. 2)what
browser are you going to be using if you are.

If you're dropping AOH the new ISP may well have NNTP acess. This
allows you to use any reader and most browsers to access the NGs.
If you aren't, you'll need to get a newsfeed. Many have been
suggested as have a large number of readers.

Dave in Fairfax
--
Dave Leader
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/
PATINA
http://www.Patinatools.org/

Mike:

Taste isn't disputable. :-)

Firefox is faster than IVE in my experience. (IVE = Internet Virus
Explorer) I have only seen reviews that confirm that opinion. Might be
nice if you could point to a site that doesn't download as fast on FF -
I'll send it to the developers attention.

There are many badly designed sites that only work with IVE though. I
limit my visits to them. IVE and the bad sites are too risky -- "thank
you very much but no thanks" -- due to all the "Phishers" and pimply
faced teen-bopper hackers who exploit the weakness of IIS and IVE.

BTW No evidence of a memory leak here. Again it would be nice to have
evidence to report. If you can spot anything concrete the developers
should hear about it.




Mike Marlow wrote:
wrote in message
...

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 08:07:10 -0500, Will
wrote:


On their home page you will find the link for Thunderbird - it makes a
great newsreader.
http://www.mozilla.org/

Looks like it might be -- if I could ever get the darned thing to
work.

I spent about an hour playing with it last night and I couldn't even
get the 'junk' button ungrayed, never mind setting up the filters.

The documentation on its newsreader functions is sparse and unhelpful
as well.



I played with Thunderbird for a while too and decided it was not worth the
effort. It does have some nice features that OE does not have, but for me
they just didn't outweigh some of the other peculiarities of it. I'm past
the point where diddling with software packages like this is fun, so I lost
interest after a short time. I'm still using Firefox, but probably only for
a short time. It's much slower than IE, and although I can't really prove
it, it seems to have a memory leak of some major proportions. I've checked
for patches or updates, but there are none on the Mozilla site. I'll
probably just go back to IE and its shortcomings.

--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek

John DeBoo wrote:
George E. Cawthon wrote:

Mozilla Firefox for a browser. Mozilla Thunderbird for e=mail and a
news reader. Lots more protection than MS software and more stable.
Costs nothing! Installs easily. Keep your outlook (you have to use
it for other stuff) and MS worked it out so that Firefox couldn't be
used for MS updates.


Why use 2 products when 1 will do - Netscape 7.2? One app to install,
does email and newsgroups from the same screen and is Mozilla
internally, and is also free.

Netscape 7.2 has some security flaws. It is essentially an AOL product
now. FireFox is a "new and improved" version. as is Thunderbird.

Mozilla 1.7x and 1.8x is "less insecure" They are the "better" Netscape
clones - Much better generally. More secure, faster.

--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek

Bob G. notes:

Not sure if AOL is truely in fact going to cut off newsgroups...seems
to me I read it was a false alert....

AOL itself posts that alert EVERY time you go to open Newsgroups. If it is a
false alert, you'd think someone would inform them.

But even my wife who does have an AOL account uses Forte Free
Agent as her news reader... since it handles AOL's newsgroups a heck
of a lot better then AOL own software...

I tried getting that up, and I tried Mozilla. Neither one will work with my
AOL--latest version.

I was just about to say screw it, and use Google about once a month, but I'll
keep trying for a bit longer.

Charlie Self
"I think we agree, the past is over." George W. Bush

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 17:09:01 GMT, wrote:


When you download the program you get a fully functional version of
Agent, but after 30 days it reverts to Free Agent.

Not if you get a code which is very easy to find on the internet.
Ya just need to know where to find one. :-)

I played with Thunderbird for a while too and decided it was not worth the
effort. It does have some nice features that OE does not have, but for me
they just didn't outweigh some of the other peculiarities of it. I'm past
the point where diddling with software packages like this is fun, so I lost
interest after a short time. I'm still using Firefox, but probably only for
a short time. It's much slower than IE, and although I can't really prove
it, it seems to have a memory leak of some major proportions. I've checked
for patches or updates, but there are none on the Mozilla site. I'll
probably just go back to IE and its shortcomings.

===================
I find Firefox to be much faster the I.E..... BY FAR... and have not
have any memory problems...

I checked and the current version is only 1.0.... you still using a
Beta version..?

Bob Griffiths

On 04 Feb 2005 19:18:23 GMT, otforme (Charlie Self)
wrote:

Bob G. notes:

Not sure if AOL is truely in fact going to cut off newsgroups...seems
to me I read it was a false alert....

AOL itself posts that alert EVERY time you go to open Newsgroups. If it is a
false alert, you'd think someone would inform them.

But even my wife who does have an AOL account uses Forte Free
Agent as her news reader... since it handles AOL's newsgroups a heck
of a lot better then AOL own software...

I tried getting that up, and I tried Mozilla. Neither one will work with my
AOL--latest version.

I was just about to say screw it, and use Google about once a month, but I'll
keep trying for a bit longer.

Charlie Self
"I think we agree, the past is over." George W. Bush


====================
Charlie...I just went out and checked my wives computer and the
Ao-Hell she is running is 9.0 optimized.... BUT once she signs on she
minimizes Ao-hell and fires up Foirefox to browse the net...or fire up
Agent to read newsgroups... as much as I have tried to get her to use
a "real e-mail" program she just keeps aol for that...

She did say she had a "little" bit of trouple configuring Agent..could
not be much since She is more at home in front of a sewing maching
then a computer...

Bob Griffiths

Bob Griffiths responds:

Charlie...I just went out and checked my wives computer and the
Ao-Hell she is running is 9.0 optimized.... BUT once she signs on she
minimizes Ao-hell and fires up Foirefox to browse the net...or fire up
Agent to read newsgroups... as much as I have tried to get her to use
a "real e-mail" program she just keeps aol for that...

She did say she had a "little" bit of trouple configuring Agent..could
not be much since She is more at home in front of a sewing maching
then a computer..

Same AOL I'm running. I'd be in fat city, if...I knew where the hell AOL keeps
its FTP and NNTP stuff so I could lay the numbers into Agent.

I haven't got a clue as to what is eating Mozzila's favorite son. It perks up,
goes right along, and then cannot access AOL, even though it has my correct
screen name and password.

Earthlink was even worse when I tried that. As has happened before, it left me
with a wild desire to get it the hell OFF my computer, which I did. Now, I have
to call and keep them from billing me.

I find absolutely nothing wrong with AOL's email program, but, then, I've got
almost no experience with others. It is simple to use, lets you do pretty much
what you want, and, so far, has given me few problems. Too, it takes seconds to
set up, something that can almost never be said of others I've tried to get
running.

Charlie Self
"I think we agree, the past is over." George W. Bush

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 09:39:20 -0700, John DeBoo wrote:

George E. Cawthon wrote:

Mozilla Firefox for a browser. Mozilla Thunderbird for e=mail and a
news reader. Lots more protection than MS software and more stable.
Costs nothing! Installs easily. Keep your outlook (you have to use
it for other stuff) and MS worked it out so that Firefox couldn't be
used for MS updates.

Why use 2 products when 1 will do - Netscape 7.2? One app to install,
does email and newsgroups from the same screen and is Mozilla
internally, and is also free.

I've said that before... in defense of my trusty old Shopsmith..

Of course, in later years I've added several free standing tools, but the SS is
a great drill press.. wish I could say that NS was a great browser

I'll admit it.. I'm the one that bought Agent, instead of finding a crack..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

"Bob G." wrote in message
...


===================
I find Firefox to be much faster the I.E..... BY FAR... and have not
have any memory problems...

I checked and the current version is only 1.0.... you still using a
Beta version..?


Nope - I have 1.0. What's that they say about rev 0 products? I find it to
be just an absolute hog. It stays open in my taskbar most of the time but
when I click on it, or click on a link in a post or likewise, it takes over
10 seconds for the screen to come forward and then if I try to click on
anything in the browser (menu item, address bar, etc.), I have to wait
another 5-10 seconds for the action to occur. This is just bad software. I
hate to give Microsoft any credit, but IE displays none of these problems.
--

-Mike-

In article ,
Charlie Self wrote:
Bob Griffiths responds:

Charlie...I just went out and checked my wives computer and the
Ao-Hell she is running is 9.0 optimized.... BUT once she signs on she
minimizes Ao-hell and fires up Foirefox to browse the net...or fire up
Agent to read newsgroups... as much as I have tried to get her to use
a "real e-mail" program she just keeps aol for that...

She did say she had a "little" bit of trouple configuring Agent..could
not be much since She is more at home in front of a sewing maching
then a computer..

Same AOL I'm running. I'd be in fat city, if...I knew where the hell AOL keeps
its FTP and NNTP stuff so I could lay the numbers into Agent.

AOL does *NOT* use NNTP. They run a proprietary protocol, that *only* their
software knows how to talk to.

And, as you know, they're shutting those machines down.

You *cannot* access AOL 'news' with a conventional newsreader, like "Agent".

For text-only groups, sign-up with individual.net, and then put *their*
news-server info into Agent, or whatever.

I haven't got a clue as to what is eating Mozzila's favorite son. It perks up,
goes right along, and then cannot access AOL, even though it has my correct
screen name and password.

Obviously, It can't access any of AOL's 'proprietary' content -- like the chat
rooms, etc.

And, in and of itself, it *won't* do the dialing like the AOL-ware will.
You need to start the AOL software _first_, then launch Mozilla's favorite
son.

Lastly, AOL _e-mail_ requires a *DIFFERENT*FROM*NORMAL* type of connection to
read mail. Besides the AOL software, there are a limited number of programs
that know how to make that kind of connection. Netscape version 7, and above
*is* one of the programs that _does_ know how. (when you create an 'account',
it has a special type "AOL account".)

Note: the Mozilla 'all-in-one' application, and, thus, presumably, Thunderbird
as well, does *NOT* know how to connect to AOL's mail-reading servers.

Earthlink was even worse when I tried that. As has happened before, it left me
with a wild desire to get it the hell OFF my computer, which I did. Now, I have
to call and keep them from billing me.

I find absolutely nothing wrong with AOL's email program, but, then, I've got
almost no experience with others. It is simple to use, lets you do pretty much
what you want, and, so far, has given me few problems. Too, it takes seconds to
set up, something that can almost never be said of others I've tried to get
running.

IF you're happy with AOL, I will suggest that you *KEEP* it. and just
'add something else' for 'news' access.

That 'something else' comes in two parts:
1) setting up an account with a news-server operator
2) setting up "appropriate" software on your machine.


for 1), there are several free services, and a bunch of relatively inexpensive
pay ones. A partial list:

Free:
individual.net text-only, good. see http://news.individual.net
terranews.com mediocre for the free service, much better if you pay for it.
groups.google.com clunky interface.

Pay:
supernews.com best-of-breed, the largest news-service provider
the standard-of-reference for 'spam-free' newsgroups
giganews.com #2 quite good about keeping spam out of the groups
newsguy.com a bunch smaller, but *excellent* service, and personal attn.
practically as good as supernews on despamming.
easynews.com the #3 provider. NO direct experience. They _were_ having
problems with being "behind the power curve" on resources,
resulting in reliability issues, and having a hard time
playing catch-up. WHEN they get those issues resolved
(and they well may be, _now_), they'll again be a top-tier
provider. (while they were having problems, I couldn't
recommend them)
terranews.com no direct experience. reports say their pay service is
very good.



Meganewsservers.com Stay far, *FAR* away from these folks. They don't have
Aka "Hostopia" a _clue_ as to how to run a news-server business. (Or
a mail-server business -- as they try, under the name of
'megamailservers.com'.)



News-reader softwa
You've found Agent/Free Agent. It's quite good; the pay version is better.
There's also "Gravity" http://www.gravity.com, which a lot of people like.

And, of course,
Netscape
Mozilla, (the all-in-one, or "Thunderbird" the mail/news only product)
MS Outlook / Outlook Express -- *NOT* recommended!!

see http://www.newsreaders.com for more than you could possibly want to
know about _real_ newsreader software, the extent of the choices, and where
to get what.

Nope - I have 1.0. What's that they say about rev 0 products? I find it to
be just an absolute hog. It stays open in my taskbar most of the time but
when I click on it, or click on a link in a post or likewise, it takes over
10 seconds for the screen to come forward and then if I try to click on
anything in the browser (menu item, address bar, etc.), I have to wait
another 5-10 seconds for the action to occur. This is just bad software. I
hate to give Microsoft any credit, but IE displays none of these problems.

bad for you maybe but not for me. I have not had this problem unless my system
is slowing down and needs a reboot. this happens more often using outlook and
IE. but a reboot every few days keeps xp running ok.
so it sounds like there is a problem with your computer.
when both are running fast 1.0 blows away IE every time.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

"Steve Knight" wrote in message
...


bad for you maybe but not for me.

Go ahead... rub it in.

I have not had this problem unless my system
is slowing down and needs a reboot. this happens more often using outlook
and
IE. but a reboot every few days keeps xp running ok.
so it sounds like there is a problem with your computer.
when both are running fast 1.0 blows away IE every time.


The first thing I thought of was that it had to be something with my laptop,
but it's the only program that behaves that way. I've thought about
removing it and re-installing it to see if that made any difference, but
just haven't gotten around to it. Maybe...

--

-Mike-

Robert Bonomi writes:

And, as you know, they're shutting those machines down.

You *cannot* access AOL 'news' with a conventional newsreader, like "Agent".

I don't want to access AOL news. AOL does that fine. I wanted to use Agent in
conjunction with AOL to access Usenet NGs. For that, Agent requires FTP and
NNTP numbers, which I cannot locate in AOL. You say it doesn't have such
numbers, which is fine. I can dump Agent and free up some disc space.

I haven't got a clue as to what is eating Mozzila's favorite son. It perks
up,
goes right along, and then cannot access AOL, even though it has my correct
screen name and password.

Obviously, It can't access any of AOL's 'proprietary' content -- like the
chat
rooms, etc.

And, in and of itself, it *won't* do the dialing like the AOL-ware will.
You need to start the AOL software _first_, then launch Mozilla's favorite
son.


Did that. Made no difference, except that I could get to the stage where I
entered my AOL username and password for Mozilla to use. It then was unable to
access AOL.

Lastly, AOL _e-mail_ requires a *DIFFERENT*FROM*NORMAL* type of connection to
read mail. Besides the AOL software, there are a limited number of programs
that know how to make that kind of connection. Netscape version 7, and above
*is* one of the programs that _does_ know how. (when you create an
'account',
it has a special type "AOL account".)

Note: the Mozilla 'all-in-one' application, and, thus, presumably,
Thunderbird
as well, does *NOT* know how to connect to AOL's mail-reading servers.


Again, I do NOT want to read AOL mail or news. I want to access Usenet.
Following Mozilla's own instructions gets me nowhere.

More disc space freed up.

I will probably just use Google Groups. It is not particularly handy, and
doesn't seem to have filters, but I have neither the time nor inclination to
develop expertise in attaching various bits and pieces to AOL. I've already
****ed away a couple of days fiddling with this when I could have been doing
something profitable from either a fiscal or enjoyment stage.

I have no idea why these programs won't work with AOL 9.0, or whether it's
something I'm doing. I'd say the latter is most likely. But, as someone who
writes instruction manuals, I see that as a major fault in the instructions,
which, IMO, are often written so that someone can feel superior when saying
something like, "but, you see, everyone who KNOWS computers knows that step, so
it doesn't need to be written down."

Charlie Self
"I think we agree, the past is over." George W. Bush

In article ,
Charlie Self wrote:
Robert Bonomi writes:

And, as you know, they're shutting those machines down.

You *cannot* access AOL 'news' with a conventional newsreader, like "Agent".

I don't want to access AOL news. AOL does that fine. I wanted to use Agent in
conjunction with AOL to access Usenet NGs.

AHA! Quote: "What we have here is a failure to communicate". grin

I was using 'news' to *mean* exactly what you call "USENET NGs" -- *NOT* in
the sense of "current events stuff". In the computer crowd, 'news' has a
primary meaning that refers to USENET, with the 'current events' referent
being a _distant_ second-place -- *unless* context makes obvious that the
second-place meaning is what is intended. Sorry I wasn't clear.

A little history:
Traditionally, USENET was the network of server machines that exchange
'postings', 'articles', whatever-you-want-to-call-them. This network
was *very* different from the "Internet" although a fair number of USENET
servers _did_ talk to each other via the Internet. But a _lot_ of the
transmission occurred over point-to-point DIAL-UP, via automated scheduling.
In some instances people even moved stuff between locations via magnetic
tapes. The remark about "never underestimate the bandwidth of a station-
wagon full of mag tapes" *does* have a basis in fact. The station wagon
was transporting USENET data between a couple of colleges in the Research
Triangle Park vicinity, in North Carolina.

The information that was exchanged between these servers was known as
"USENET news", "netnews" , or just "news", for short.

This is why the 'categories' are known as "_NEWS_ groups". And, why
individual postings are often referred to as "_NEWS_ articles".

(I'm an _old_ f*rt -- I had USENET 'news' -- and e-mail, via the same
link -- for almost 10 years *before* I had an 'Internet' connection.)


Anyway, Agent _can_ do what you want. *BUT* you have to have made arrangements
with "somebody else" (other than AOL) for USENET access, _first_.

You'll have to specify the 'NNTP server' (aka 'news server') as the name
that that "somebody else" told you to use, and then, when the prompts come
up, enter the username/password that *THEY* assigned you (*not* your AOL
username/password).

the AOL software already authenticated you to AOL, now you go "through" the
connection AOL sets up -- but not *TO* AOL -- for USENET. Thus, only the
"somebody else" that runs the NNTP server needs to validate you. So you have
to give them _their_ username/password information.

i.e., start up AOL 9, and, after it logs in, minimize it, and run Agent.
And, when the username/password prompts come up, answer with the 'magic
words' that the NNTP server operator gave you for that purpose.


The *ONLY* thing you goofed up on, was using the wrong username/password.
The "wrong key" for _this_ lock. grin


For that, Agent requires FTP and
NNTP numbers, which I cannot locate in AOL. You say it doesn't have such
numbers, which is fine. I can dump Agent and free up some disc space.

*NO* 'conventional' USENET (aka 'news') software can talk to AOL's USENET
servers. AOL's servers do *NOT* speak "NNTP". The *only* thing that can
talk to AOL's USENET serves is AOL's integrated software. And _that_ will
work *only* as long as AOL keeps those servers running. which is the root
of the entire problem. wry grin

I haven't got a clue as to what is eating Mozzila's favorite son. It perks
up,
goes right along, and then cannot access AOL, even though it has my correct
screen name and password.

Obviously, It can't access any of AOL's 'proprietary' content -- like the
chat
rooms, etc.

And, in and of itself, it *won't* do the dialing like the AOL-ware will.
You need to start the AOL software _first_, then launch Mozilla's favorite
son.


Did that. Made no difference, except that I could get to the stage where I
entered my AOL username and password for Mozilla to use. It then was unable to
access AOL.

Of course. see above. Mozilla's USENET (aka 'news') functionality uses NNTP
to talk to servers. AOL's USENET server does *NOT* speak NNTP. doomed to
failure.

*HOWEVER*, if you got to _that_ point, with the pop-up windows prompting
for the username, and then the password, you were *VIRTUALLY* THERE. You
had _ALMOST_EVERYTHING_ done correctly.

You _were_ actually connected to somebody's NNTP server. (I don't know whose,
but "somebody's" You were just using a username/password that was *not*
recognized by that server. You need one issued by the folks that run *that*
server, not the one from AOL.

Lastly, AOL _e-mail_ requires a *DIFFERENT*FROM*NORMAL* type of connection to
read mail. Besides the AOL software, there are a limited number of programs
that know how to make that kind of connection. Netscape version 7, and above
*is* one of the programs that _does_ know how. (when you create an
'account',
it has a special type "AOL account".)

Note: the Mozilla 'all-in-one' application, and, thus, presumably,
Thunderbird
as well, does *NOT* know how to connect to AOL's mail-reading servers.


Again, I do NOT want to read AOL mail or news. I want to access Usenet.

My misunderstanding. Couldn't figure out _why_ you were entering your *AOL*
username/password into Mozilla, except for that reason.

Revised comment: You're entering the *wrong* username/password. You have to
use the one that is given to you BY THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE nntp SERVER you
are trying to connect to. Since AOL does *NOT* have an NNTP server (the USENET
servers that they are going to be shutting down are -not- NNTP compatible;
they speak their own private ******* language, rather than the standard), your
AOL username/password will _not_ be usable for any attempted NNTP access.

Following Mozilla's own instructions gets me nowhere.

Again, you have to enter the name (or IP address) of the *NNTP* server
to use. AOL doesn't have one of those. So there's nothing for Mozilla
to talk *to* at AOL. And if you specify "somebody else's" USENET server
(aka 'news' server, aka 'NNTP' server), then, "obviously" the AOL username/
password won't work -- you have to use the username/password that "somebody
else" gave you, for accessing _their_ systems.

More disc space freed up.

I will probably just use Google Groups. It is not particularly handy, and
doesn't seem to have filters, but I have neither the time nor inclination to
develop expertise in attaching various bits and pieces to AOL. I've already
****ed away a couple of days fiddling with this when I could have been doing
something profitable from either a fiscal or enjoyment stage.

I have no idea why these programs won't work with AOL 9.0, or whether it's
something I'm doing. I'd say the latter is most likely. But, as someone who

writes instruction manuals, I see that as a major fault in the instructions,
which, IMO, are often written so that someone can feel superior when saying
something like, "but, you see, everyone who KNOWS computers knows that step, so
it doesn't need to be written down."

It's the particular _combinations_ of things you're trying that doesn't work.

Desktop (i.e. 'client') software that uses NNTP to communicate with a remote
USENET server is *unable* to communicate with AOL's soon-to-be-eliminated
newsgroup servers.

Trying to use your AOL username/password to authenticate yourself when
talking to "somebody else's" NNTP server doesn't work. "Wrong key for the
lock".

To make software like "Agent" work, there are two things you have to do:
1) Set up an account for access with "somebody" that runs an NNTP _server_.
2) Enter _three_ pieces of information -- *as*provided* by that 'somebody'
in step 1 -- into Agent's configuration. The "server name" (or address),
the 'username', and the 'password'. Trying to use a username/password
from a source =other= than the 'somebody' from step 1 is guaranteed to
fail.

AOL does *not* run NNTP servers, Thus they do not qualify for step 1.
Therefore, you _cannot_ use your *AOL* username/password as part of
step 2. Thus you have to make arrangements with "somebody else".
For figuring out 'how to make things work', "news.individual.net" is a
good choice, because it doesn't cost anything to set up an account there.
Just point your web browser at http://news.individual.net and click on
the 'registration' link.