Alesti

Not long ago, when I was looking for a web-based RSS reader, I came across Alesti.

I find that it works very well for me. I needed something web-based because (1) I work on multiple computers and (2) I work on both Macs and PCs, so even something that fits on a flash drive isn’t the best choice for me.  I need something I can access from any machine with an internet connection.

I also prefer a reader that allows me to see the page in its native format; I want the full post when I’m reading something, not a stripped-down, text-only version.

Alesti lets me do that.  It can be set up in a traditional three-pane style, much like Outlook or Outlook Express.  The “preview pane” can be set to show the post as it would appear if you went to the blog’s site directly.  Even nicer, clicking on a link anywhere in the post opens the link in the same window, so my screen doesn’t get cluttered.

It won’t be the best RSS aggregator for everyone, of course, but it works well for me.