Friday, September 17, 2010

More on Feed Reeders

I tried giving Google Reader a couple more days. It sped up considerably on Opera but it still has too many quirks for me. Like it would keep showing entries as new even though I'd "Read" them numerous times. That's a huge time waster, and frustrating. And there's just too much clicking and/or scrolling just to get it to recognize that I had read something — only to have it show up as Unread the next hour. And I'd have to sign in to my Google account multiple times a day. Nope, GR is not for me. It annoys me and wastes my time.

I tried Feedly. It's OK, but it's too cutesy or something, I don't know. I admit that I didn't give it very long, but it just didn't feel right for me so I moved on.

I don't and won't use IE so that's not an option.

Some of the blogs I read are not on Blogger so using Blogger's Follow feature misses them, even though I already do check the Blogger Dashboard often for a quick idea of what's been updated while I'm checking to see if any comments on really old posts or spam need moderating. (Side note: Isn't Blogger's new Spam filter great?)

The bottom line is I just want a reader that gives me a plain old list of blogs with an easy visual as to what's read and what's not. Nothing fancy.

Because of Deb's comment on my last post, I tried FeedDemon. It's the closest reader to Bloglines that I've tried so far so I think this will be the one. It has a little advertising block in one corner if you use the free version. If it keeps performing as well as it has so far, I will be happy to pay the $15 to remove that ad block if it really bugs me. But I'm so used to tuning out ads that it may not even be an issue after a few more days.

Thanks Deb! :-)

14 comments:

  1. You know this glitch with Google Reader unmarking posts as read is a new thing. I do agree it's pretty annoying. I'm hoping they get it fixed soon.

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  2. That's interesting about following - because I put all of the blogs I like whether on wordpress or typepad into the add section and I get updates on everything.

    Granted, I only use my work pc and my home pc to follow but then I carry a blackberry for work and just don't want to do anything on a portable device but read work emails...that's enough of a headache! *LOL*

    Glad you found a reader that works for you!

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  3. You know, I've never used one of those types of programs. Of course, I am hugely retarded (as in slow) in the high-tech, internet world. I just click on whoever strikes my fancy. If there is new content, great, if not, I click on. Works for me.

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  4. Agree with Jessica that the GR Read/Unread glitch is new. It's a huge pain for all of us, even those of us who actually like GR! Glad you found a reader that will work for you.

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  5. If you use Firefox, Debbie, then give 'Brief' a try. You'll find it in the FF add-ons.
    I really can't stand Google Reader, I find it unreadable, Sage (another FF add-on is good too but Brief is my personal favorite.

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  6. I am looking for something web based because I use several computers and a blackberry. Anyone have any suggestions?

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  7. You're welcome Debbie. So far that little ad box hasn't bothered me and I am liking how easy it is to use. Glad I could help :)

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  8. I was extremely sad about this announcement as well. I moved things to Google Reader, which I promptly hated. I then sought out fee readers and did find one I like. In the process tho, I got a horrible virus while "shopping", and the next day, my power supply died. After I finally brought my computer home, the cord decided it had carried the very last little bit of electricity around my house, so the computer still didn't work. All is finally well, and I am reading blogs through Awasu now. Geez...what a huge deal this turned out to be!

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  9. I hadn't noticed the issue with Google Reader. Like Carolyn, I put all blogs I follow in the add section and get updates. Nice to know about another source of feed reader though, I did like Bloglines the best.

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  10. Yep, I will second, or third that thing about the read/unread glitch in GR. It's new, and I would suspect it will be fixed in due time.

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  11. the google reader seams to work pretty good on google chrome...

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  12. I'm bummin' about Bloglines too!!

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  13. I second bloglovin - it's clunky because you have to copy/paste the blog address in (unless the blogger has a bloglovin') button. But I love the interface, very simple!

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