One thing Xnews doesn't have that long-time News Xpress users might miss when switching over is News Xpress' customizable, resizable, free-floating windows. Like News Xpress, Xnews also lacks a couple of features found in the commercial newsreader Agent, most notably the ability to watch/ignore articles on a thread-by-thread basis and an option for efficiently switching between online/offline newsreading modes.
Other than that there's not much to dislike about Xnews. News Xpress users should really give Xnews a try as it feels like News Xpress on steroids. So too should users of Free Agent and other news clients; with its price (or lack thereof), interface, and rich set of features, Xnews is as close to a "can't-miss" newsreader as there is.
And while the Xnews help manual is a bit sparse, that doesn't really come as a surprise considering Xnews' freeware status. The manual is worth checking out, though, if only for the sage advice you'll find by reading its first line: "Behold, I send you forth as newbies in the midst of wolves: so RTFM!".
Pros: Rich set of features, not so rich price (freeware), impressive speed
Cons: Lacks extensive help and some of Agent's more advanced features, feature-set and interface starting to look a bit dated (no major updates in a couple of years), questionable need for a standalone newsreader in today's environment
