Newsreaders

[CB]

I am looking for a good newsreader as I have grown tired of the limitations
of the web interface. I will be honest about the matter; I know nothing about
newsreaders and/or how to use them. I am not interested about the email
functions of any newsreaders as I use another email program. I have no
intention of using POP3 with the newsreader, but then again, this may change
as I learn more about the newsreader. This should tell you how little I know
about newsreaders. I am also ignorant about whether or not I will need to
subscribe to a newsgroup provider.

Another question I have is this: Do any of the newsreaders have the ability
to insert a hyperlink into my messages or must I use something like Microsoft
Word or Microsoft Works of Microsoft Office? This last statement should alert
you to the fact that I know nothing about inserting hyperlinks.

I am looking for a newsreader that is simple to configure and use. I have
spent days researching such things as newsreaders, HTML, binaries, yEnc, etc,
etc, etc. Needless to say, this is all above my level of knowledge.

I am running Vista Ultimate 32 bit with an AMD Athlon 64X2 4200 processor. I
currently use Yahoo mail and Windows Live Mail. The Windows Live Mail
contains Windows Live Writer, which I have never used. My retail Vista
Ultimate Disk must be defective because my OS has never contained Windows
Mail, which I understand replaces Outlook Express and is part of Vista. If I
reformat and do a clean install of Vista Ultimate there is no Windows Mail. I
assume Windows Mail, as an integral part of Vista, cannot be downloaded from
Microsoft and installed on my system. Oh well, no big deal.

My computer includes an installation disk for Microsoft Works 8.5. I mention
this only because it has the ability to create hyperlinks. However, I don't
have a clue as to how to create a hyperlink in this program and transfer it
to a discussion reply. I don't know if any of Microsoft's office products
have the ability to be used as a newsreader or not. This should tell you the
scope of my ignorance. If any of Microsoft's office products have the ability
to be used as a newsreader, while at the same time giving me the ability to
do many other things, I would be willing to purchase Microsoft Office 2007 or
any other Microsoft office product. I don't care if my newsreader is a free
application or one that I must pay for. Money is not a problem.

Well, there you have it. The whole world now knows the scope of my
ignorance. Humility is a wonderful thing, don't you think? I would sincerely
appreciate any assistance from anyone who can advise me of the options
available for the purpose of obtaining and using a good newsreader. I thank
you in advance for any advice you may be able to provide.

C.B.

 

[Malke]

I am looking for a good newsreader as I have grown tired of the limitations
of the web interface. I will be honest about the matter; I know nothing about
newsreaders and/or how to use them. I am not interested about the email
functions of any newsreaders as I use another email program. I have no
intention of using POP3 with the newsreader, but then again, this may change
as I learn more about the newsreader. This should tell you how little I know
about newsreaders. I am also ignorant about whether or not I will need to
subscribe to a newsgroup provider.

Another question I have is this: Do any of the newsreaders have the ability
to insert a hyperlink into my messages or must I use something like Microsoft
Word or Microsoft Works of Microsoft Office? This last statement should alert
you to the fact that I know nothing about inserting hyperlinks.

(snippage)

Yes, hyperlinks are supported but most people prefer to read newsgroup
posts in plain text.

You do not need to subscribe to a "newsgroup provider" to use the
Microsoft newsgroups. The server name is msnews.microsoft.com and no
username/password are required. If you wish to subscribe to other Usenet
newsgroups, you will need a newsgroup provider. Check on your ISP's
website to see if they provide NNTP access.

Outlook Express/Windows Mail as Newsreader:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
http://rickrogers.org/setupoe.htm
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/accessing_newsgrousp_with-windows_mail.htm

Other Newsreaders for Windows:
http://www.forteinc.com/main/homepage.php - Forte
http://www.mozilla.org - Thunderbird
http://gravity.tbates.org/
http://www.40tude.com/dialog/
http://xnews.newsguy.com/

About Usenet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/ - Usenet FAQs from the Internet FAQ Archives
http://www.usenetmonster.com/infocenter/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet - a brief
explanation of newsgroups

How to Post:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 - How to Ask a Question
http://users.tpg.com.au/bzyhjr/liszt.htm - How Not to Get Technical Help
on Usenet


http://aumha.org/nntp.htm - list of MS newsgroups
microsoft.public.test.here - MS group to test if your newsreader is
working properly
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/munad.htm - how to munge email address
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossposting - crossposting
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm - multiposting


Malke

 

[CB]

(snippage)

Yes, hyperlinks are supported but most people prefer to read newsgroup
posts in plain text.

You do not need to subscribe to a "newsgroup provider" to use the
Microsoft newsgroups. The server name is msnews.microsoft.com and no
username/password are required. If you wish to subscribe to other Usenet
newsgroups, you will need a newsgroup provider. Check on your ISP's
website to see if they provide NNTP access.

Outlook Express/Windows Mail as Newsreader:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
http://rickrogers.org/setupoe.htm
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/accessing_newsgrousp_with-windows_mail.htm

Other Newsreaders for Windows:
http://www.forteinc.com/main/homepage.php - Forte
http://www.mozilla.org - Thunderbird
http://gravity.tbates.org/
http://www.40tude.com/dialog/
http://xnews.newsguy.com/

About Usenet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/ - Usenet FAQs from the Internet FAQ Archives
http://www.usenetmonster.com/infocenter/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet - a brief
explanation of newsgroups

How to Post:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 - How to Ask a Question
http://users.tpg.com.au/bzyhjr/liszt.htm - How Not to Get Technical Help
on Usenet


http://aumha.org/nntp.htm - list of MS newsgroups
microsoft.public.test.here - MS group to test if your newsreader is
working properly
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/munad.htm - how to munge email address
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossposting - crossposting
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm - multiposting


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP

Malke,

Thank you very much.

C.B.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am looking for a good newsreader as I have grown tired of the limitations
of the web interface.

Good. Using a newsreader is a much better choice.

I will be honest about the matter; I know nothing about
newsreaders and/or how to use them.

Read here:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

It's about Outlook Express, but Windows Mail, which comes with Vista,
is very similar.

I am not interested about the email
functions of any newsreaders as I use another email program. I have no
intention of using POP3 with the newsreader, but then again, this may change
as I learn more about the newsreader. This should tell you how little I know
about newsreaders.

I recommend that you start by using the newsreader you already
have--Windows Mail, which comes as part of Windows Vista.

Others will undoubtedly tell you how Windows Mail is terrible, and how
their choice of a newsreader is better. Some of them may even be
right; there is a fairly wide variety of features and capability in
newsreaders. I use a third-party newsreader myself.

But when you start out, you don't know enough about what features are
important to you. That's why I recommend starting with what you have.
Use it for a few months, long enough to understand its strengths and
weaknesses (and how important each of those strengths and weaknesses
are to the way *you* use a newsreader), then start to evaluate some
the others; you'll then have a benchmark to evaluate them against.

I am also ignorant about whether or not I will need to
subscribe to a newsgroup provider.

It's called a news server. You can get the Microsoft public newsgroups
free from the server msnews.microsoft.com. If you want other
(non-Microsoft) newsgroups, you'll need to use another server or
servers (most newsreaders let you use multiple servers without a
problem. I use five different servers myself). Check with your ISP;
many ISPs have general purpose news servers available for their
customers at no charge. If your ISP doesn't, you may want to Google to
find another choice; both paid and free choices exist.

Another question I have is this: Do any of the newsreaders have the ability
to insert a hyperlink into my messages

They all do. You simply type something like www.microsoft.com and it
will be interpreted as a hyperlink.

or must I use something like Microsoft
Word or Microsoft Works of Microsoft Office?

No, not at all.

This last statement should alert
you to the fact that I know nothing about inserting hyperlinks.

I am looking for a newsreader that is simple to configure and use.

Again, start with Windows Mail. It's very easy.

I have
spent days researching such things as newsreaders, HTML, binaries, yEnc, etc,
etc, etc. Needless to say, this is all above my level of knowledge.

Forget about things like yEnc and binaries at first (maybe forever,
depending on what your interest are; I've been using newsreaders for
many years, and still have no interest in them). Start with text-based
newsgroups, like this one. I recommend that you post in plain text,
not html, in text newsgroups (which to use is an option in the
newsreader).

I am running Vista Ultimate 32 bit with an AMD Athlon 64X2 4200 processor. I
currently use Yahoo mail and Windows Live Mail.

Then change the "Windows Mail" I wrote above to "Windows Live Mail,"
which is an improved version of Windows Mail.

 

[CB]

Good. Using a newsreader is a much better choice.

Mr. Blake,

I appreciate your advice. Since I have no Windows Mail in my OS and I
cannot use Outlook Express in Vista I will use the Windows Live Mail
application. Hopefully, I won't make too many errors and/or cause anyone any
grief during the learning process. If so, I apologize in advance.

Have a nice day.

C.B.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Mr. Blake,

No formality necessary. Just "Ken" is fine.

I appreciate your advice.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Since I have no Windows Mail in my OS and I
cannot use Outlook Express in Vista I will use the Windows Live Mail
application. Hopefully, I won't make too many errors and/or cause anyone any
grief during the learning process. If so, I apologize in advance.

Good luck. It really isn't at all hard.

 

[AlexB]

Wait a second, you must have Windows mail in your Vista Ultimate, It is a
default. Just find it. perhaps you will have to set it up in Windows
features via Control panel.

Also Windows Live Mail is a Hotmail account not POP3. It is my understanding
that you have to use Windows Mail POP3 accounts to get the newsgroups.

It is possible that I have a gap in my knowledge and I do not know how to
set up newsgroups via Live Mail but anyhow I don't think it will be very
convenient to use unless you ar going to access it from two different
locations and in this case POP3 is not that convenient.

 

[MICHAEL]

Wait a second, you must have Windows mail in your Vista Ultimate, It is a
default. Just find it. perhaps you will have to set it up in Windows
features via Control panel.

Correct, Windows Mail comes with Vista.

Also Windows Live Mail is a Hotmail account not POP3. It is my understanding
that you have to use Windows Mail POP3 accounts to get the newsgroups.

Incorrect. Windows Live Mail is here;
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

It used to be known as Windows Live Mail Desktop,
they dropped the "Desktop" part. Although the newsgroup
for the software still uses it. WLM can do POP3, check your
Hotmail and do newsgroups. I use it for newsgroups.
I use Outlook for email

Hotmail is now officially, Windows Live Hotmail.

POP3 has absolutely nothing to with newsgroups.

It is possible that I have a gap in my knowledge and I do not know how to
set up newsgroups via Live Mail but anyhow I don't think it will be very
convenient to use unless you ar going to access it from two different
locations and in this case POP3 is not that convenient.

There is obviously a gap in your knowledge... a big gap.


-Michael

 

[MICHAEL]

I am looking for a good newsreader as I have grown tired of the limitations
of the web interface. I will be honest about the matter; I know nothing about
newsreaders and/or how to use them. I am not interested about the email
functions of any newsreaders as I use another email program. I have no
intention of using POP3 with the newsreader, but then again, this may change
as I learn more about the newsreader. This should tell you how little I know
about newsreaders. I am also ignorant about whether or not I will need to
subscribe to a newsgroup provider.

Another question I have is this: Do any of the newsreaders have the ability
to insert a hyperlink into my messages or must I use something like Microsoft
Word or Microsoft Works of Microsoft Office? This last statement should alert
you to the fact that I know nothing about inserting hyperlinks.

I am looking for a newsreader that is simple to configure and use. I have
spent days researching such things as newsreaders, HTML, binaries, yEnc, etc,
etc, etc. Needless to say, this is all above my level of knowledge.

First, Windows Mail is included in Vista. It does email and newsgroups.
But does not retrieve your Hotmail.

Type "winmail" into Start Menu's search bar. Right-click the top
result and "Pin to Start Menu".

There is also Windows Live Mail which works with XP or Vista.
There is speculation that Windows Live Mail will replace
Windows Mail. Windows Live Mail (WLM) does newsgroups,
email and can retrieve your Hotmail. I think it is better than
Windows Mail (WM) at handling newsgroups. I don't use its
email function because I use Outlook for email.

Now, Hotmail is officially known as Windows Live Hotmail.
Microsoft has managed create quite a bit of confusion with
all these names and name changes.

WLM used to have "Desktop" at the end of it, they dropped that.
Even though the newsgroup for it still has "desktop" in its name.

Confused? Don't worry, many have been.

Like I said, I don't particularly like Vista's Windows Mail.
I think it handles newsgroups slow and buggy.

My suggestion is to try either Windows Live Mail or
Thunderbird for newsgroups.

http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview
Windows Live Mail

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Thunderbird 2


Take care,

Michael

 

[CB]

Wait a second, you must have Windows mail in your Vista Ultimate, It is a
default. Just find it. perhaps you will have to set it up in Windows
features via Control panel.

Also Windows Live Mail is a Hotmail account not POP3. It is my understanding
that you have to use Windows Mail POP3 accounts to get the newsgroups.

It is possible that I have a gap in my knowledge and I do not know how to
set up newsgroups via Live Mail but anyhow I don't think it will be very
convenient to use unless you ar going to access it from two different
locations and in this case POP3 is not that convenient.


AlexB,

Yes, you are correct. Windows Mail is embedded in Vista. However, I
have never had Windows Mail on this OS. There is no folder for Windows Mail
in my Program Files on my C Drive. There is no Windows Mail option in
"Programs and Features", "Turn Windows Features On or Off". There is no
listing in "All Programs" on my start menu. It has always been so. I have
done clean installs of this OS and there is NEVER a program file or listing
for Windows Mail anywhere, under any heading, in any location. I can only
assume the retail upgrade disk I purchased for Vista Ultimate (the 32bit
disk) is defective in some way. I have not tried the 64bit disk that also
came with it. I won't even attempt to get Microsoft to replace the 32bit disk
because I know it isn't going to happen.

Since I can't use Outlook Express (which was replaced by Windows Live
Mail) on Vista, and since I don't have Windows Mail I went to Microsoft's
website and downloaded and installed Windows Live Mail. I then rebooted my
computer. I opened up Windows Live Mail and all of a sudden my email messages
and contacts were being imported from my Yahoo mail account, which is a POP3
program. I did not initiate the import. I had previously configured my
incoming and outgoing servers for Yahoo Mail even though I had never used the
settings. I can only assume that Windows Live Mail searched for and
downloaded the POP3 Yahoo Mail contacts and emails.

I like Windows Live Mail, although I have never used it, or Outlook, or
Outlook Express before. I had always been satisfied with my Yahoo Mail
account within ATT Yahoo, which is my ISP. However, I cannot use my Yahoo
Mail account as a newsreader or do much of anything else with it for that
matter. I have decided to leave my Yahoo account as is and use Windows Live
Mail instead, since all emails to my Yahoo account are automatically exported
to Windows Live Mail.

Have a nice day.

C.B.

 

[CB]

First, Windows Mail is included in Vista. It does email and newsgroups.
But does not retrieve your Hotmail.

Type "winmail" into Start Menu's search bar. Right-click the top
result and "Pin to Start Menu".

There is also Windows Live Mail which works with XP or Vista.
There is speculation that Windows Live Mail will replace
Windows Mail. Windows Live Mail (WLM) does newsgroups,
email and can retrieve your Hotmail. I think it is better than
Windows Mail (WM) at handling newsgroups. I don't use its
email function because I use Outlook for email.

Now, Hotmail is officially known as Windows Live Hotmail.
Microsoft has managed create quite a bit of confusion with
all these names and name changes.

WLM used to have "Desktop" at the end of it, they dropped that.
Even though the newsgroup for it still has "desktop" in its name.

Confused? Don't worry, many have been.

Like I said, I don't particularly like Vista's Windows Mail.
I think it handles newsgroups slow and buggy.

My suggestion is to try either Windows Live Mail or
Thunderbird for newsgroups.

http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview
Windows Live Mail

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Thunderbird 2


Take care,

Michael

Michael,

Yes, I am aware that Windows Mail is a part of Vista. However, as I
pointed out to AlexB, it is not on my Vista Ultimate 32bit installation disk.
I have done searches, within my system, for Winmail and Windows Mail, to no
avail. It simply does not exist in my OS.

There is no listing for it anywhere. There is no program file for it.
It cannot be downloaded and installed. It has not shown up after clean
installs. This leads me to the conclusion that the installation disk is
defective. I purchased the upgrade disk almost a year ago. My 90 days of
support are long gone. As I stated in my other post, I don't intend to ask
Microsoft to replace it because I know they will not.

Anyway, it doesn't matter as Windows Live Mail is going to replace
Windows Mail also, according to Microsoft. I am satisfied with things as they
are.

Have a nice day.

C.B.

 

[MICHAEL]

Michael,

Yes, I am aware that Windows Mail is a part of Vista. However, as I
pointed out to AlexB, it is not on my Vista Ultimate 32bit installation disk.
I have done searches, within my system, for Winmail and Windows Mail, to no
avail. It simply does not exist in my OS.

There is no listing for it anywhere. There is no program file for it.
It cannot be downloaded and installed. It has not shown up after clean
installs. This leads me to the conclusion that the installation disk is
defective. I purchased the upgrade disk almost a year ago. My 90 days of
support are long gone. As I stated in my other post, I don't intend to ask
Microsoft to replace it because I know they will not.

Anyway, it doesn't matter as Windows Live Mail is going to replace
Windows Mail also, according to Microsoft. I am satisfied with things as they
are.

Have a nice day.

Windows Live Mail should work good for you.

A new version is probably right around the corner, too.
They've made a lot of progress on WLM since it was known
as WLM Desktop and in beta.
I just got three emails back from the product team stating
that bugs/issues I had submitted had been closed and fixed.

I used to use Thunderbird and it is a good product, too.
I just prefer WLM for newsgroups.


Take care,

Michael

 

[AlexB]

Yep, you are right my gap seemed unbridgeable. However, you did a very good
job explaining the matter to the public in this thread and that will allow
me:

(1) close the gap
(2) decrease your negative ratings by a notch.

Good luck.

 

[MICHAEL]

Yep, you are right my gap seemed unbridgeable.

No "seemed" about it. Anyone that thinks they know
as much as you spout, and doesn't know the difference
between POP3 and NNTP, *is* an ignorant dolt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_News_Transfer_Protocol

You try to make yourself look like some Microsoft expert and
you don't have a clue as to what products they actually have
or how they work.

However, you did a very good
job explaining the matter to the public in this thread and that will allow
me:

Hopefully, you realize how unknowing you truly are...
your nescience is quite amazing.

(1) close the gap

Close your mouth, and stop your fingers from typing
if you don't have an answer.... stop pretending.
Do you have any idea how foolish you look most
of the time? Unfortunately, fools know no shame.

(2) decrease your negative ratings by a notch.

You should try decreasing the amount of your
ignorance by several notches. Read and research.

Good luck.

No such thing. I make my own luck.


-Michael

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Wait a second, you must have Windows mail in your Vista Ultimate, It is a
default.

Right.


Just find it. perhaps you will have to set it up in Windows
features via Control panel.

Also Windows Live Mail is a Hotmail account not POP3.

No, that's completely wrong. It can easily do both, even both at the
same time.

It is my understanding
that you have to use Windows Mail POP3 accounts to get the newsgroups.

That's also wrong. Newsgroups have nothing to do with POP3. They use
NNTP. Reading news has nothing to do with mail, although several
programs (Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail are two examples) have
the capability to do both.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes, you are correct. Windows Mail is embedded in Vista. However, I
have never had Windows Mail on this OS. There is no folder for Windows Mail
in my Program Files on my C Drive. There is no Windows Mail option in
"Programs and Features", "Turn Windows Features On or Off". There is no
listing in "All Programs" on my start menu. It has always been so. I have
done clean installs of this OS and there is NEVER a program file or listing
for Windows Mail anywhere, under any heading, in any location. I can only
assume the retail upgrade disk I purchased for Vista Ultimate (the 32bit
disk) is defective in some way. I have not tried the 64bit disk that also
came with it. I won't even attempt to get Microsoft to replace the 32bit disk
because I know it isn't going to happen.

I've never heard of such a defect--a missing program like that.

If you want Windows Mail, go to
C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe and run the program from
there.

Or Click the Start Orb, and enter Windows Mail in the search line.

 

[AlexB]

And what made you think, you idiot, that I don't know the difference between
the POP3 and a web based account?

And you definitely do not have a clue.

NNTP stands for Network News Transfer Protocol. It is a PART of any POP3
account as well. Do you understand it or not?

NNTP is the *****format***** that is used to transfer news group messages.
It has nothing to do with POP3 or web based accounts like hotmail.com or
live.com. NOTHING, you IDIOT!!!!!!!!

Again, if you have a POP3 account the messages arrive there using NNTP. If
you have a web based account the messages arrive in there using NNTP.

Likewise, your IDIOTIC messages arrive to this NG for all to see your IDIOCY
using NNTP even if you, idiot, are using a web based account like windows
live.

It is a FORMAT, you IDIOT.

You shall come to terms with your very low IQ and never challenge people who
have education and talents.

 

[C.B.]

I've never heard of such a defect--a missing program like that.

If you want Windows Mail, go to
C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe and run the program from
there.

Or Click the Start Orb, and enter Windows Mail in the search line.

Ken,

I appreciate your feedback and I understand what you are saying.
However, I have no file for Windows Mail in C:\Program Files\Windows Mail. I
have also inserted the text winmail and windows mail in the Start Orb
searchbox to no avail. It simply doesn't exist.

I decided yesterday to take my Vista Ultimate upgrade disk and try it
on one of my other systems, knowing that I would not be able to activate it.
However, I wanted to see what the result would be. Sure enough, after
installing it on the other system there was no Windows Mail in the Program
Files and no Windows Mail listed in Start, All Programs.

I thought that maybe my DVD drive was not reading the disk correctly
but this has now been ruled out. It doesn't matter and I am not upset. It
could have been caused by some glitch in the manufacturing process or it
could have been caused by something as simple as a speck of dust on my disk
as the OS was being placed on it. It's also possible that the medium itself
was inferior or damaged in some way. Who knows.

Anyway, I am more than happy with Windows Live Mail, which according to
many people is much better than Windows Mail. I now have a newsreader and I
am able to access all three of my email accounts, one from Yahoo and two
from Hotmail, from one location with no signin or password necessary. I see
no reason to ask Microsoft to replace it as I don't intend to use Windows
Mail.

As always, your help is appreciated and your knowledge respected. Have
a nice day.

C.B.

 

[MICHAEL]

Alex,

There's not much left to say to you.
You have so clearly just demonstrated your
amazing amount of ignorance and plain stupidity.

I really come back to thinking your drivel must be
a joke... it just has to be. How could any sane person
allow themselves to be so thoroughly embarrassed?
If you aren't a joke, then I might actually feel sorry for you.

I hope you get better soon. Really.


-Michael

 

[Steve Meyerson]

I am looking for a good newsreader <snip>

I haven't used Windows Mail yet, but Free Agent is 10 times begtter
than OE for a newsreader:

http://www.forteinc.com/main/homepage.php

Steve