100 Where can I get the software?

There are two pieces of software that you will need for any offline
reading activities.  A "generating program" (also known as a "packet
generator" or "door") to build the packets on the BBS or login account,
and a "reading program" (also known as a "packet reader") to read the
packets on your home machine.  This section lists software that can be
used for each of these activities, together with the authors, FTP sites,
and packet formats supported.

In the case of interactive dial-in users, you may find that a suitable
generating program may already exist on the system you call: ask the
system administrator if you are unsure.  For Waffle systems, you will
need to ask the system administrator to install the generating software.
For Unix, anyone who has access to a C compiler can compile and install
the currently available software, so no intervention from the system
administrator is required.


101 Where are the reviews?

not here.

if you are looking for reviews, post your requirements and see who
else knows what you need.  please do not be vague -- no one can help
you when you just say you're looking to evaluate some `offline
software for your computer'.  what kind of computer is it you're
using?  what is the computer it's connecting to?  what do you want to
do -- mail, news, both, more?  how much are you willing to pay?  what
sort of interface do you need?  how sophisticated are you?  etc.

I will not be putting any reviews in here, partly because they would be
difficult to maintain, and partly because I want to avoid any flak from
a negative review which I did not write.

if you want to periodically post a collection of reviews, go ahead.
you don't need my approval.