NewsReactor for Windows
Key Details of NewsReactor
- Download binaries from newsgroups.
- Last updated on 4/23/2012
- There have been 2 updates
- Virus scan status:
Clean (it's extremely likely that this software program is clean)
Editors' Review
Those who need an old-school newsreader could do worse than DaanSystems' NewsReactor. You can use it to search for, combine, and download binaries in Usenet newsgroups via as many as six servers. It can group similar files together and claims advanced error detection.
NewsReactor's trial version is limited to 50 uses, which a nag screen starts counting down when you first open the program. A First Time Wizard that can be reactivated at any time from the File menu lets you scan automatically for news servers or manually enter your server; we chose the latter. The wizard quickly established a connection and downloaded the typically overwhelming list of newsgroups covering every topic under the sun, and a few that belong in the dark, frankly. NewsReactor can handle it all, though; in addition to the usual check boxes for Software, Games, MP3s, and such, there's one for what we'll euphemistically call "adult" content. We should note that NewsReactor's Find feature easily lets you remove unwanted items, too. One unique feature that may appeal to users with specific needs is the bandwidth limiter, which can conserve online resources.
This newsreader is easy to use and will be familiar to anyone with Usenet experience, though a good Help file and online tutorials are there for those who need them. The developer is up front about the program's advantages--it's an easy-to-use newsreader with a simple interface--and its disadvantages, mostly its lack of "some modern functions." It's Vista-certified, but we tested it successfully in Windows 7.
