Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
Google Thanks!!

merryb wrote:
> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
> Google Thanks!!
>
See the topic: Sorta OT: My ISP has dropped RFC (by Damsel)

Seem to recall that some posters mentioned:
http://motzarella.org/
and
http://aioe.org/

Good luck.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Garlic: the element without which life as we know it would be impossible

> Seem to recall that some posters mentioned:http://motzarella.org/
> andhttp://aioe.org/
>
> Good luck.

Thank you, Cathy- soon you will hear from a new & improved version!!

>
> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide
> a valid email address in order for your membership to be verified.
> Here's a link to the website where you can sign up:
>
> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>
> HTH

Thank you- I did just that, now I have to find where the groups are! I
sure wish I had more experience with all this, but I guess you gotta
learn somehow!!

merryb wrote:
>> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
>> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
>> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
>> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide
>> a valid email address in order for your membership to be verified.
>> Here's a link to the website where you can sign up:
>>
>> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>>
>> HTH
>
> Thank you- I did just that, now I have to find where the groups are! I
> sure wish I had more experience with all this, but I guess you gotta
> learn somehow!!
>

The posts are on what is called an NNTP server and aren't accessible via
your web browser.

To access them you need a newsreader program. I like Thunderbird which
is a free download from www.mozilla.com.

If you choose it then download and install it and have a look at this to
set it up:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Joining_newsgroups

merryb wrote:
> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
> Google Thanks!!
>
You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide
a valid email address in order for your membership to be verified.
Here's a link to the website where you can sign up:

http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home

HTH

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:47:45 -0500, flitterbit >
wrote:

>Steve Wertz wrote:
>> IOW: Use any email address you'd like in your news software, but
>> use the correct username as a login to the news server.
>>
>> -sw
> >
>Sorry; I wasn't clear enough -- thanks for expanding.

What do you plan to use for a news reader?


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

"flitterbit" > wrote in message
...
> merryb wrote:
>> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
>> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
>> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
>> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
>> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
>> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
>> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
>> Google Thanks!!
>>
> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide a
> valid email address in order for your membership to be verified. Here's a
> link to the website where you can sign up:
>
> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>
> HTH


Re your:
"You might want to use a throwaway email
address with it since it doesn't allow munging, ..."

I don't understand what a throwaway email address is and how it is used.
Also don't understand "doesn't allow munging..."

Thanks,
Dee Dee, who uses motzarella.

Steve Wertz wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:54:51 -0500, flitterbit wrote:
>
>> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
>> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
>> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
>> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide
>> a valid email address in order for your membership to be verified.
>> Here's a link to the website where you can sign up:
>>
>> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>
> You can use any posting email address that you'd like with
> motzarella - It does not have to be valid (emailable). You do
> need a real email address to sign up, though. And you will to
> use the username you choose during registration - but that's not
> posted with any of your posts (or rather, it's encryptyed).
>
> IOW: Use any email address you'd like in your news software, but
> use the correct username as a login to the news server.
>
> -sw
>
Sorry; I wasn't clear enough -- thanks for expanding.

merryb wrote:
>> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
>> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
>> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
>> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide
>> a valid email address in order for your membership to be verified.
>> Here's a link to the website where you can sign up:
>>
>> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>>
>> HTH
>
> Thank you- I did just that, now I have to find where the groups are! I
> sure wish I had more experience with all this, but I guess you gotta
> learn somehow!!
>
>
As far as I'm aware, motzarella.org doesn't have Web-based groups the
way Google has.

I read Usenet with Thunderbird, my email program, and download the
messages from motzarella.org's server directly into Thunderbird.
Outlook Express can also serve as a news reader and, if I recall
correctly, its help files give pretty good instructions about setting up
news accounts.

Other people prefer dedicated news clients such as Forte Agent, but I
haven't used any of them so can't give any kind of recommendation.

With both Outlook Express and Thunderbird you create a news account (in
Thunderbird, click Tools then Account Settings then Add Account and then
follow the remaining instructions), choose which newsgroups to subscribe
to, and then download the messages. Both programs support multiple news
accounts, and each news server counts as a separate news account.

George wrote:
> merryb wrote:
>>> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
>>> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
>>> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
>>> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide
>>> a valid email address in order for your membership to be verified.
>>> Here's a link to the website where you can sign up:
>>>
>>> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>>>
>>> HTH
>>
>> Thank you- I did just that, now I have to find where the groups are! I
>> sure wish I had more experience with all this, but I guess you gotta
>> learn somehow!!
>>
>
> The posts are on what is called an NNTP server and aren't accessible via
> your web browser.
>
> To access them you need a newsreader program. I like Thunderbird which
> is a free download from www.mozilla.com.
>
> If you choose it then download and install it and have a look at this to
> set it up:
>
> http://kb.mozillazine.org/Joining_newsgroups
>
Thanks for the link; I'm sure it'll give a better explanation of how to
do things than I did

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:27:11 -0400, "Dee Dee" >
wrote:

>Re your:
>"You might want to use a throwaway email
>address with it since it doesn't allow munging, ..."
>
>I don't understand what a throwaway email address is and how it is used.
>Also don't understand "doesn't allow munging..."
>
>Thanks,
>Dee Dee, who uses motzarella.

For instance, my return email address (sf.usenet etc) is a throw away
dedicated to news groups only. I check it occasionally so it's not a
complete throw away, but if it gets any spam - c'est la vie and that's
why I set it up. Check a box, "report spam"... poof it's gone.

Your isp probably allows multiple mailboxes, but there are lots of
free web based email addresses too - yahoo, gmail, hotmail etc.


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:01:07 -0500, flitterbit >
wrote:

>sf wrote:
>> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:47:45 -0500, flitterbit >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>>> IOW: Use any email address you'd like in your news software, but
>>>> use the correct username as a login to the news server.
>>>>
>>>> -sw
>>>>
>>> Sorry; I wasn't clear enough -- thanks for expanding.
>>
>> What do you plan to use for a news reader?
>>
>>
>????? I already have a newsreader and am not the person asking for
>assistance.

I should have said "what do you use for a news reader" because she's
going to need suggestions.


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:47:45 -0500, flitterbit >
> wrote:
>
>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>> IOW: Use any email address you'd like in your news software, but
>>> use the correct username as a login to the news server.
>>>
>>> -sw
>>>
>> Sorry; I wasn't clear enough -- thanks for expanding.
>
> What do you plan to use for a news reader?
>
>
????? I already have a newsreader and am not the person asking for
assistance.

Dee Dee wrote:
> "flitterbit" > wrote in message
> ...
>> merryb wrote:
>>> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
>>> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
>>> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
>>> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
>>> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
>>> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
>>> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
>>> Google Thanks!!
>>>
>> You could try the server news.motzarella.org; it allows posting, but
>> doesn't carry binary (image) groups. I've been using it for over a year
>> now and am quite happy with it. You might want to use a throwaway email
>> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, and you have to provide a
>> valid email address in order for your membership to be verified. Here's a
>> link to the website where you can sign up:
>>
>> http://www.motzarella.org/?language=en&showpage=home
>>
>> HTH
>
>
> Re your:
> "You might want to use a throwaway email
> address with it since it doesn't allow munging, ..."
>
> I don't understand what a throwaway email address is and how it is used.
> Also don't understand "doesn't allow munging..."
>
> Thanks,
> Dee Dee, who uses motzarella.
>
>
By "throwaway" I meant an email account one might use as a spam trap,
ie, an account you don't care much about. Some people use Hotmail for
this, others use gmail, etc.

"munging" is making up an email address, say something like
, also as a spam trap.

merryb wrote:
> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
> Google Thanks!!
>

You need to find out whether "Juno" offers "news groups" my isp, ISP.com
does, for the same price as juno. tens of thousands of news groups of
which rec.food.cooking is but one.

Then its just a matter of configuring a browser to your service
providers NNTP mine is simply news.isp.com and then you can read news
groups in your own browser rather than going through google or yahoo.

This results in quicker postings, more tools to deal with text editing
and an ability to control what you see on your browser, which you cant
do with google or yahoo.

I was talking to a person the other day who was not sure what a
"browser" is, if you are that new to computers....

My isp did not provide me with a browser, i use the free netscape
browser but there are several others to choose from, all free.

Let me know if you need any more information.
--
Joseph Littleshoes

merryb > wrote:

> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
> Google Thanks!!

You will need not only a newsserver, but also a newsreader, and you will
need to learn how to configure it. For this kind of questions, I highly
recommend <news:news.newusers.questions>, a newsgroup dedicated to
helping people new to Usenet.

Victor

> I should have said "what do you use for a news reader" because she's
> going to need suggestions.

You aren't kidding!!! You folks are great, and I really appreciate
your help. I'm really going to have to study this-I'm getting nowhere!
I tried the Motzarella, and all the info is in German! I did have a
little success with outlook, but it doesn't seem very user friendly,
at least to my little feeble brain. But I DO resolve to get thru this.
Sad, huh? I bet I could get my 9 year old to help me, but I'll ask the
hubby. I was trying to figure this out on my own so I could learn
something, but most of it is Greek to me.

merryb wrote:
>>I should have said "what do you use for a news reader" because she's
>>going to need suggestions.
>
>
> You aren't kidding!!! You folks are great, and I really appreciate
> your help. I'm really going to have to study this-I'm getting nowhere!
> I tried the Motzarella, and all the info is in German! I did have a
> little success with outlook, but it doesn't seem very user friendly,
> at least to my little feeble brain. But I DO resolve to get thru this.
> Sad, huh? I bet I could get my 9 year old to help me, but I'll ask the
> hubby. I was trying to figure this out on my own so I could learn
> something, but most of it is Greek to me.
>

I would recommend downloading the Netscape browser, but then you have to
configure it, not hard but it does help to know what you are doing.

download at

http://browser.netscape.com/

And check the "system requirements" page just so you get the right one,
there is a Mac as well as a PC version.
--
JL

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:01:07 -0500, flitterbit >
> wrote:
>
>> sf wrote:
>>> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:47:45 -0500, flitterbit >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>>>> IOW: Use any email address you'd like in your news software, but
>>>>> use the correct username as a login to the news server.
>>>>>
>>>>> -sw
>>>>>
>>>> Sorry; I wasn't clear enough -- thanks for expanding.
>>> What do you plan to use for a news reader?
>>>
>>>
>> ????? I already have a newsreader and am not the person asking for
>> assistance.
>
> I should have said "what do you use for a news reader" because she's
> going to need suggestions.
>
>
Aaah. Currently I use Thunderbird; I used to use Outlook Express. I
realize by some standards they aren't considered to be "real"
newsreaders, but they do the trick and are simple to use.

On 2007-08-15, Steve Wertz > wrote:

> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
> software.

Netscape, as old timers remember it, is pretty much a dead horse. It
was purchased by AOL, so we know what that's now worth.

> There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
> browser/email/news 'experience'.

That should read, "Mozilla Suite, which has been renamed Seamonkey,
for...." Both Seamonkey, the suite, and Firefox and Thunderbird,
separate browser and mail client apps, are direct decendents of the
old Netscape and will make ol' "scapers" feel right at home. Either
are a great choice for Windows users who know better than to actually
use IE or OE.

nb

merryb;1334121 Wrote:
> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about Google, so
> can someone kindly point me to a different source so I can participate
> without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but using a computer is still
> pretty new to me, and this is all I know!! I'm still trying to learn,
> and most of you are very helpful. Someone had posted about a free
> server the other day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone
> can help me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
> Google Thanks!!

I use TRAVEL.com which is free and has built in spam filters. I love
it!


--
Rik Brown
Message Origin: TRAVEL.com

Steve Wertz wrote:

> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:25:04 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
>
>>merryb wrote:
>>
>>>>I should have said "what do you use for a news reader" because she's
>>>>going to need suggestions.
>>>
>>>You aren't kidding!!! You folks are great, and I really appreciate
>>>your help. I'm really going to have to study this-I'm getting nowhere!
>>>I tried the Motzarella, and all the info is in German! I did have a
>>>little success with outlook, but it doesn't seem very user friendly,
>>>at least to my little feeble brain. But I DO resolve to get thru this.
>>>Sad, huh? I bet I could get my 9 year old to help me, but I'll ask the
>>>hubby. I was trying to figure this out on my own so I could learn
>>>something, but most of it is Greek to me.
>>>
>>
>>I would recommend downloading the Netscape browser, but then you have to
>>configure it, not hard but it does help to know what you are doing.
>>
>>download at
>>
>>http://browser.netscape.com/
>
>
> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
> software.

Of course it does, what do you think i use to read this group?
--
JL
You want Thunderbird for that. I'm not even sure it
> Netscapoe maintains a suite anymore, do they?
>
> There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
> browser/email/news 'experience'.
>
> -sw

Steve Wertz wrote:

> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:32:17 -0500, notbob wrote:
>
>
>>On 2007-08-15, Steve Wertz > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
>>>browser/email/news 'experience'.
>>
>>That should read, "Mozilla Suite, which has been renamed Seamonkey,
>>for...."
>
>
> I thought they were still maintaining two separate product lines.
> But I see now they aren't. Seamonkey all the way. Been using it
> for the last ... 1.7 years? I don't use it for news, though.
> Just browsing and IMAP mail.
>
> -sw

So what about "Opera" im thinking about switching from the Netscape 7 i
have been using the last few years?
--
JL

Joseph Littleshoes wrote:

> Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:25:04 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I would recommend downloading the Netscape browser, but then you have
>>> to configure it, not hard but it does help to know what you are doing.
>>>
>>> download at
>>>
>>> http://browser.netscape.com/
>>
>>
>>
>> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
>> software.
>
>
> Of course it does, what do you think i use to read this group?

With an old version. The current NS version is 9.0. You're using
7.2. It's from 2004, way back when they used to support mail and
news.

--
Reg

Reg wrote:

> Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:25:04 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I would recommend downloading the Netscape browser, but then you
>>>> have to configure it, not hard but it does help to know what you are
>>>> doing.
>>>>
>>>> download at
>>>>
>>>> http://browser.netscape.com/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
>>> software.
>>
>>
>>
>> Of course it does, what do you think i use to read this group?
>
>
> With an old version. The current NS version is 9.0. You're using
> 7.2. It's from 2004, way back when they used to support mail and
> news.
>
That's interesting i looked at the Netscape home page to day and saw it
was up to 9 and only did not download and install as a replacement to my
7 as im contemplating downloading the Opera browser.

Why would a browser NOT have e mail and news? I found several that
didn't have news, and at least one that used "Eudora" for e mail, im not
that fond of the Safari browser that came with my Mac, it don't have a
window for news groups, and its mail program seems needlessly complex.

Apparently opera has a news program and an e mail program.

The thing about Opera is it looks newer and fresher, i really don't see
how it can be better than what i have got. Look better but ... that is
of course why i ask...the Netscape never gave me any problems, and is
easy to configure, i guess im going to have to see if a closer look at
the opera browser is available.
--
JL

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:32:17 -0500, notbob > wrote:

>On 2007-08-15, Steve Wertz > wrote:
>
>> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
>> software.
>
>Netscape, as old timers remember it, is pretty much a dead horse. It
>was purchased by AOL, so we know what that's now worth.
>
>> There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
>> browser/email/news 'experience'.
>
>That should read, "Mozilla Suite, which has been renamed Seamonkey,
>for...." Both Seamonkey, the suite, and Firefox and Thunderbird,
>separate browser and mail client apps, are direct decendents of the
>old Netscape and will make ol' "scapers" feel right at home. Either
>are a great choice for Windows users who know better than to actually
>use IE or OE.
>
I use an old version of Agent. I tried the latest version less than a
year ago and it took me an entire month to configure it to my liking.
That's why I didn't upgrade (which would have meant buying it again).
I'm not going to give monetary support to something that complicated
with so many features I don't want.


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:44:00 -0500, flitterbit >
wrote:

>Aaah. Currently I use Thunderbird; I used to use Outlook Express. I
>realize by some standards they aren't considered to be "real"
>newsreaders, but they do the trick and are simple to use.

Flitterbit... they are "real" news readers, but they are *not* "stand
alone" news readers. Does that make any sense to you?


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

Rik Brown > wrote in
:

>
> merryb;1334121 Wrote:
>> Ok, I need help! I've been reading all the complaints about
>> Google, so can someone kindly point me to a different source
>> so I can participate without Google? Excuse my ignorance, but
>> using a computer is still pretty new to me, and this is all I
>> know!! I'm still trying to learn, and most of you are very
>> helpful. Someone had posted about a free server the other
>> day, but I can't remember where it was!! If someone can help
>> me out a little, then I can get away from your beloved
>> Google Thanks!!
>
> I use TRAVEL.com which is free and has built in spam filters.
> I love it!

There are many news readers that are free and can block
spam.

I like usenet better than the forums that put usenet on the web.
Yours is at: http://forums.travel.com/

sf wrote in :

> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:44:00 -0500, flitterbit
> > wrote:
>
>>Aaah. Currently I use Thunderbird; I used to use Outlook
>>Express. I realize by some standards they aren't considered
>>to be "real" newsreaders, but they do the trick and are simple
>>to use.
>
> Flitterbit... they are "real" news readers, but they are *not*
> "stand alone" news readers. Does that make any sense to you?

Windows news readers are lister here.
http://www.newsreaders.com/win/clients.html

Other 'news' info here, if anyone would like to investigate.
http://www.newsreaders.com/

Just as an FYI.. for anyone. :-)

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2007-08-15, Steve Wertz > wrote:
>
>> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
>> software.
>
> Netscape, as old timers remember it, is pretty much a dead horse. It
> was purchased by AOL, so we know what that's now worth.
>
>> There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
>> browser/email/news 'experience'.
>
> That should read, "Mozilla Suite, which has been renamed Seamonkey,
> for...." Both Seamonkey, the suite, and Firefox and Thunderbird,
> separate browser and mail client apps, are direct decendents of the
> old Netscape and will make ol' "scapers" feel right at home. Either
> are a great choice for Windows users who know better than to actually
> use IE or OE.
>
> nb
>

What do you dislike about OE as a news reader? What features do you feel are
missing or badly designed?

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:44:00 -0500, flitterbit >
> wrote:
>
>> Aaah. Currently I use Thunderbird; I used to use Outlook Express. I
>> realize by some standards they aren't considered to be "real"
>> newsreaders, but they do the trick and are simple to use.
>
> Flitterbit... they are "real" news readers, but they are *not* "stand
> alone" news readers. Does that make any sense to you?
>
>
Indeed it does; I've happily used both without any problems whatsoever
and have never felt the need to mess with Forte Agent or any of the
other stand-alones. Rather, I was just trying to pre-empt the "get a
real newsreader" chorus that usually pops up in other groups at the
mention of Outlook Express in particular ; )

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:32:17 -0500, notbob > wrote:
>
>> On 2007-08-15, Steve Wertz > wrote:
>>
>>> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
>>> software.
>> Netscape, as old timers remember it, is pretty much a dead horse. It
>> was purchased by AOL, so we know what that's now worth.
>>
>>> There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
>>> browser/email/news 'experience'.
>> That should read, "Mozilla Suite, which has been renamed Seamonkey,
>> for...." Both Seamonkey, the suite, and Firefox and Thunderbird,
>> separate browser and mail client apps, are direct decendents of the
>> old Netscape and will make ol' "scapers" feel right at home. Either
>> are a great choice for Windows users who know better than to actually
>> use IE or OE.
>>
> I use an old version of Agent. I tried the latest version less than a
> year ago and it took me an entire month to configure it to my liking.
> That's why I didn't upgrade (which would have meant buying it again).
> I'm not going to give monetary support to something that complicated
> with so many features I don't want.
>
>
That's one of the reasons I never bothered with it; I read a number of
computer groups whose participants are pretty savvy about all manner of
'puter-related stuff, and the commentary on some of the stand-alones
made me think I'd rather spend my time reading the news than configuring
the reader

In article .com>,
says...
> > I should have said "what do you use for a news reader" because she's
> > going to need suggestions.
>
> You aren't kidding!!! You folks are great, and I really appreciate
> your help. I'm really going to have to study this-I'm getting nowhere!
> I tried the Motzarella, and all the info is in German! I did have a
> little success with outlook, but it doesn't seem very user friendly,
> at least to my little feeble brain. But I DO resolve to get thru this.
> Sad, huh? I bet I could get my 9 year old to help me, but I'll ask the
> hubby. I was trying to figure this out on my own so I could learn
> something, but most of it is Greek to me.
>
>

Outlook is actually more user friendly than most newsreaders. It might
be worth sticking with until you get the hang of it.

At all costs do not, I repeat DO NOT, ever try the Microplanet Gravity
newsreader. It was created by evil gnomes who hate their users.

--
Peter Aitken

In article >,
says...
> Indeed it does; I've happily used both without any problems whatsoever
> and have never felt the need to mess with Forte Agent or any of the
> other stand-alones. Rather, I was just trying to pre-empt the "get a
> real newsreader" chorus that usually pops up in other groups at the
> mention of Outlook Express in particular ; )
>

Right on! A few months ago I decided to get a "real" newsreader so got
MicroPlanet Gravity, billed as "the world's most powerful newsreader."
What a mistake! The program is indeed powerful, it has more commands
that anyone can count, but it is so poorly designed that it is a real
headache. Commands on totally unrelated menus? Yep. Taking 5 clicks to
do what 1 click should accomplish? Yep. Disconnecting from the server
every 15 seconds? Yep.

Stay away!


--
Peter Aitken

On Aug 15, 11:50 am, flitterbit > wrote:
> Peter A wrote:
> > In article >,
> > says...
> >> Indeed it does; I've happily used both without any problems whatsoever
> >> and have never felt the need to mess with Forte Agent or any of the
> >> other stand-alones. Rather, I was just trying to pre-empt the "get a
> >> real newsreader" chorus that usually pops up in other groups at the
> >> mention of Outlook Express in particular ; )
>
> > Right on! A few months ago I decided to get a "real" newsreader so got
> > MicroPlanet Gravity, billed as "the world's most powerful newsreader."
> > What a mistake! The program is indeed powerful, it has more commands
> > that anyone can count, but it is so poorly designed that it is a real
> > headache. Commands on totally unrelated menus? Yep. Taking 5 clicks to
> > do what 1 click should accomplish? Yep. Disconnecting from the server
> > every 15 seconds? Yep.
>
> > Stay away!
>
> I'm starting to think that mastering Gravity is one of those things that
> certain segments of the tech population use as some kind of designator
> of "in crowd" status so that they can then look down their noses at we
> mere mortals who opt for something more user-friendly As far as I'm
> concerned, whatever gets the job done with the least aggravation is
> what'll be worth my time

Considering that you're posting from the future, Gravity should be
easy.

--Bryan

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:16:23 -0500, flitterbit >
wrote:

> Rather, I was just trying to pre-empt the "get a
>real newsreader" chorus that usually pops up in other groups at the
>mention of Outlook Express in particular ; )

1. They are using that mantra for google groups readers now.

2. Before GG, when OE was still the whipping boy - I think they said
it because of security issues not because it couldn't do what stand
alone news readers do.


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:44:06 -0700, sf wrote:

>On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:32:17 -0500, notbob > wrote:
>
>>On 2007-08-15, Steve Wertz > wrote:
>>
>>> The Netscape browser does not include email or news client
>>> software.
>>
>>Netscape, as old timers remember it, is pretty much a dead horse. It
>>was purchased by AOL, so we know what that's now worth.
>>
>>> There is Mozilla Suite or Seamonkey for that integrated
>>> browser/email/news 'experience'.
>>
>>That should read, "Mozilla Suite, which has been renamed Seamonkey,
>>for...." Both Seamonkey, the suite, and Firefox and Thunderbird,
>>separate browser and mail client apps, are direct decendents of the
>>old Netscape and will make ol' "scapers" feel right at home. Either
>>are a great choice for Windows users who know better than to actually
>>use IE or OE.
>>
>I use an old version of Agent. I tried the latest version less than a
>year ago and it took me an entire month to configure it to my liking.
>That's why I didn't upgrade (which would have meant buying it again).
>I'm not going to give monetary support to something that complicated
>with so many features I don't want.

you have a slightly newer version of agent than i do. i tried to
upgrade a little and was also ****ed that they wanted me to pay full
price again. but this one is o.k., with the addition of newsproxy for
some additional killfile capabilities. i would definitely stay away
from any browser-based reader.

your pal,
blake

flitterbit wrote:

> sf wrote:
> > On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:44:00 -0500, flitterbit >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Aaah. Currently I use Thunderbird; I used to use Outlook
> > > Express. I realize by some standards they aren't considered to
> > > be "real" newsreaders, but they do the trick and are simple to
> > > use.
> >
> > Flitterbit... they are "real" news readers, but they are not "stand
> > alone" news readers. Does that make any sense to you?
> >
> >
> Indeed it does; I've happily used both without any problems
> whatsoever and have never felt the need to mess with Forte Agent or
> any of the other stand-alones. Rather, I was just trying to pre-empt
> the "get a real newsreader" chorus that usually pops up in other
> groups at the mention of Outlook Express in particular ; )

Those work well enough for basic news access. However, neither has very
robust filtering capability. I wanted to be able to handle the
cross-posting trolls. That's what finally drove me to search out a more
powerful newsreader. For Windows, Xnews is far and away the best at
filtering, but I didn't like the user interface. I'd become accustomed
to the multi-pane look I'd had with the old Netscape reader. I settled
on XanaNews as a compromise in looks and features.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

Peter A wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>> Indeed it does; I've happily used both without any problems whatsoever
>> and have never felt the need to mess with Forte Agent or any of the
>> other stand-alones. Rather, I was just trying to pre-empt the "get a
>> real newsreader" chorus that usually pops up in other groups at the
>> mention of Outlook Express in particular ; )
>>
>
> Right on! A few months ago I decided to get a "real" newsreader so got
> MicroPlanet Gravity, billed as "the world's most powerful newsreader."
> What a mistake! The program is indeed powerful, it has more commands
> that anyone can count, but it is so poorly designed that it is a real
> headache. Commands on totally unrelated menus? Yep. Taking 5 clicks to
> do what 1 click should accomplish? Yep. Disconnecting from the server
> every 15 seconds? Yep.
>
> Stay away!
>
>
I'm starting to think that mastering Gravity is one of those things that
certain segments of the tech population use as some kind of designator
of "in crowd" status so that they can then look down their noses at we
mere mortals who opt for something more user-friendly As far as I'm
concerned, whatever gets the job done with the least aggravation is
what'll be worth my time