i-Fetch for Windows

This freeware feed reader performs well with a near perfect mix of features and usability, but is missing an important feature. i-Fetch uses an almost standard feed reader interface. Feeds are listed in a left pane with articles listed above a small browser window. However, the program makes it easy to choose from three other layout options. The Help file is more than enough explanation for novices, while experienced users will pick up the program almost immediately.

On the navigation column, i-Fetch splits the feeds into groups. Oddly, the program displays only a single group at a time. Clicking a feed displays all articles for that site, but a filter tool makes it easy to reorder the articles by date, author, category, or as read or unread. A pull-down article context menu offers one-click options to toggle read/unread state, delete, copy link, e-mail, or copy the article to a user archive. During testing we found that the option to hide read articles sometimes failed. Though the program makes it easy to read feeds, we missed options to show all new articles from all feeds, or today's articles. Also useful would be an indicator showing which feeds have new articles.

i-Fetch isn't a perfect feed reader, but we found it durable, fast, and easy to use.