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Subject: 
Screwed up newsreaders...
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.geek
Date: 
Sun, 15 Oct 2000 23:10:10 GMT
Viewed: 
95 times
  
Just noticed a way in which Netscape Communicator 4.75 is screwed up. It
determines threads solely by subject (unless I'm missing a configuration
option, I remember WinVN had several options for how to handle threading
which gave you a choice as to whether to base threading solely on the
references header or on subject).

Ok, just did some tests. It's actually quite aggressive, it does ALSO
look at the references. So it can glom several threads which happen to
have intersecting subjects together. Yuck.

Does anyone know where I can find a Windows 95 version of Netscape 3.02
for download (I'll also be looking for a copy for Linux)? This is the
2nd MAJOR feature degradation I've found in Netscape. I may just have to
go back to MS Outlook Express and give up on being able to respond to
posts by e-mail (I've had too many crashes when using Outlook '98 at the
same time as MSIE/Outlook Express - some things just don't seem to get
along well with the way Outlook '98 hogs memory [I usually end up with
my .pst folders eating up 20 meg or more on a 32 meg box], one thing I
will say for Netscape is that it doesn't seem to mind co-existing with
Outlook '98 as much, it also doesn't force me to send e-mail using
Outlook '98 like Outlook Express does [of course I could also look for a
different program for my primary e-mail program, but I have yet to see
one which competes well with Outlook '98, and any replacement would HAVE
to be able to import my Outlook .pst files).

FYI, the other misfeature of NS 4.75 that bugs me is the removal of my
preferred screen layout:

+---+---+
| A | C |
+---+   |
| B |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
+---+---+

Where A: is the list of subscribed newsgroups (or the list of mail
folders)
      B: is the list of messages in the currently selected group (or
mail folder)
      C: is the contents of the currently selected message

At the screen resolutions I use (both at home and at work), this allows
me to make A and B large enough to be useful, and C is wide enough to
display the full width of 98% of messages out there (that have any line
breaks at all), and is as tall as possible.

NS 4+ only offer (A/B/C having the same meanings as above):

+---+---+
| A | B |
+---+---+
| C     |
+-------+

Either B or C is too cramped in height. Who needs to be able to read
messages formatted for 200+ characters per line...

and

+---+---+
| A | B |
|   +---+
|   | C |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
+---+---+

A is taller than I usually need. Either B or C is too cramped.

In other words, NS has decided that no one needs to be able to see as
much of the message as possible.

Outlook Express offers a format which is real nice at home, but probably
wouldn't work at work:

+---+---+---+
| A | B | C |
|   |   |   |
|   |   |   |
|   |   |   |
|   |   |   |
+---+---+---+

Of course it isn't a problem that that wouldn't work at work since I
don't think Outlook Express is available on AIX or Linux...

Frank



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Screwed up newsreaders...
 
"Frank Filz" <ffilz@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:39EA3952.70C134...ing.com... (...) Outlook Express forces you to use Outlook 98 for sending email? Something weird in your config then, as OE is a full email and newsreader program and (...) (24 years ago, 16-Oct-00, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
  Re: Screwed up newsreaders...
 
(...) Don't get too excited about this. Forte (Free) Agent does the same thing. I suspect it's a common custom on newsreaders. I think the longest-running thread on LUGNET has the subject "test". On lugnet.off-topic.test, of course. Steve (24 years ago, 16-Oct-00, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)

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