1. Introduction
One of the problems with Linux today is the lack of variety and choice in
newsreader software, where Windows has several newsreader programs with better
features and better stability. Under Windows, three of the most popular
newsreaders are Xnews, Dialog, and Free Agent.
Xnews, created by Luu Tran, is a freeware newsreader for Windows,
available from the website
http://xnews.newsguy.com. Here
is a list of Xnews' features listed on the website:
100% GNKSA 2.0 (Good Net Keeping Seal of Approval) compliant.
Plonk file (aka bozo bin).
Quick filter (type in a regex and only articles whose
subject/author match it will be shown).
Score file for advanced filtering.
Support for multiple servers/identities.
Subscribed groups can be organized into categories.
Remappable keyboard.
Binaries handling (mime, base64, uuencode, what have you).
Optional header and article caching; plus: folders for permanent
archival.
more...
Unfortunately, Luu Tran has decided neither to make his newsreader
open-source nor to release a Linux version. However, there is a way to get
Xnews to work under Linux, although it takes a bit of work.
Dialog is a newsreader by 40tude. It is available at
http://www.40tude.com/dialog/.
According to the website, "it supports multiple servers and identities, has
filtering/scoring support, integrated email functionality and binary support
including support for multiparts." The newsreader is "shareware for
commercial users and freeware for private users." It works excellently
under Linux.
Free Agent is the feature-slimmed freeware version of Forte's commercial
e-mail and Usenet client Agent. It is available at
http://www.forteinc.com/agent/.
According to the Features section of the website, the program has basic
newsreader functions, message threading, multi-part binaries, translations,
internal multi-tasking, and URL detection. It also has partial support for
offline data storage, group properties, UI configuration, searching, and
sorting. It runs with few problems under Linux after almost no extra
configuration, except under Wine versions later than 20030813.
1.1. Prerequisites
This HOWTO assumes that:
The InfoZIP utilities are installed on the Linux machine. These are available
at InfoZIP's web site.
The unzip program is required if the reader wants to install Xnews or Dialog
without copying from an existing installation. This is a standard part
of most Linux distributions, but may not be automatically installed.
The Wine "emulator" is installed properly on the Linux machine. To
download Wine, visit
http://www.winehq.com.
The version used at the
time of this writing was 20031212.
UPDATE (version 2.01): Wine versions later than 20030813 will not work.
UPDATE (version 2.2): Wine version 20031212 may be required under more modern
Linux setups. There are more problems with this version, and Dialog will not
work, but older Wine versions will not "emulate" properly without it
and will cause a crash upon trying to access NNTP servers. Try 20030813 first,
and then try version 20031212 if you have problems.
The reader of this document has access to a Windows machine. Certain files are
needed from the Windows operating system. Access to Windows 98SE is preferred.
This HOWTO covers Windows 98SE and Windows XP. Windows ME files will also work
when running Xnews if a Windows 98SE configuration is used.
Xnews stable version 5.04.25 is used (the beta version was not
tested at the time of this writing). The website for Xnews is
http://xnews.newsguy.com/
Dialog version 2.0 Beta 28 is used. The website for Dialog is
http://www.40tude.com/dialog/
Note that Wine versions greater than 20030813 will not work with Dialog.
Free Agent version 1.xx is being used. The website for Free Agent is
http://www.forteinc.com/agent/
1.2. Copyright and License
This document, Windows Newsreaders under Linux HOWTO,
is copyrighted (C) 2003 by Daniel Quintiliani.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation
License, Version 1.2 or any later version published
by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections,
with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts.
A copy of the license is available at
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
1.3. Disclaimer
No liability for the contents of this document can be accepted.
Use the concepts, examples and information at your own risk.
There may be errors and inaccuracies that could be damaging to
your system, although any damage is highly unlikely. Proceed with
caution; the author(s) do not take any responsibility.
All copyrights are held by their by their respective owners,
unless specifically noted otherwise. Use of a term in this
document should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any
trademark or service mark. Naming of particular products or
brands should not be seen as endorsements.
1.4. TODO for this document
This document may eventually contain:
This document will not cover the following newsreaders: XanaNews (I cannot
get this to work) and newsreaders included in web browsers (Outlook Express,
Netscape/Mozilla Mail and News, etc)
Free eBook: 
