Thanks for the pointers Franky.

My usual email/NG program is T'bird.

Outlook seems swell as a central repository for appointments PC/PPC/phone

Franky M. wrote:
Microsoft's NewsReader is Outlook Express
Like you I use Outlook for Email yet for news groups it's OE.
I have a short cut of "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /outnews
This option starts Outlook Express in the News Reader Only mode. When you
use this option, you cannot send or receive e-mail, and the Mail tab in the
Internet Accounts dialog box is missing.

Try it out but I also use a 2nd newsreader with a bit more power since MS
stopped developing their newsreader a long time ago. I like "Forte Agent".