Newsreaders - general discussion

Newsreaders allow you to read and post messages to the various Newsgroups found within the Usenet network. This virtual network sits on top of the Internet and is accessible by nearly every computer with 'net access. Currently, there are over 5000 Newsgroups in existence, ranging from O.J. Simpson and Tonya Harding fan clubs to newsgroups devoted to posting very interesting pictures of your favorite supermodels. In fact, there is a newsgroup available for just about every possible subject you could dream of; if it's something you're interested in, you can bet you're not the only one. The tool that allows you to lurk (monitor the messages on a newsgroup without ever actually posting your own messages), flame (harshly remonstrate those of inferior intelligence ;-), spam (a novice move where you post the same message more than once), and more is called a newsreader. Newsreaders are available with a variety of interfaces; your best bet is try them all and pick the one you're most comfortable with. Beyond the interface, several features appeal to different types of people. Those who derive pleasure out of the more vivid aspects of Usenet (i.e. alt.binaries.erotica...) will need a newsreader with excellent binary handling abilities -- the best is News Xpress but WinVN and Free Agent aren't far behind. For those keeping a close track on the amount of time you're connected to the 'net, an online/offline newsreader is critical -- the best being Free Agent with News Xpress a distant second. And finally, for those who spend more time lurking than actually posting, you'll want a quick easy-to-use newsreader -- Netscape News is the best, but WinVN,QNews and Free Agent are all more than adequate.