Google Reader or Offline Reader? Results from a Twitter Poll

www.inkthinkerblog.com — Today, I asked my Twitter friends which they prefer for managing and reading their RSS subscriptions: Google Reader or an offline reader. Here are the responses I received:

  1. ferringer GReader. I’m hooked on key commands & being able 2 use it anywhere. Must haves are FF &Better GReader extension from Lifehacker
  2. beatnikgal  …GR – I can check my email and blogs at the same time each morning…
  3. pitchyourbiz I need to eat more breakfast. I also prefer google RSS. Don’t know why, but I just do.
  4. lgr I use Google reader, but I prefer any online reader because I am not tied to any platform. I can read on my mobile for example.
  5. dennisbp Does Bloglines count? I prefer online readers. No need to open more programs than you have to
  6. Mi_Integrity  I love Google Reader http://tinyurl.com/6yw4fm
  7. BlogWellDone Offline reader. I like finding readers with threaded discussions. Makes life easier.
  8. marijked I have to admit, the only reader I’ve used is google and I barely ever use it.
  9. auramae  google reader for me (for ability to read at home/work/mobile)
  10. seoulfully be sure to share results of rss poll also google reader can do offline if you install google gears
  11. chrisguillebeau i also like GReader because I can download everything using GGears and it saves everything for the next time i’m online
  12. BlogWellDone The one installed on my laptop at home (d’oh) I really liked Lime (lemon, citrus) until it crashed and would not come back
  13. tammylenski Google Reader: Simple interface, does the job easily. Not another desktop app. Have my browswer open anyway.
  14. seoulfully FWIW I prefer Google Reader bc I don’t want unnecessary standalone apps though I’m going to give Net News Wire a shot
  15. KIntheHouse  prefer Google Reader in Prism or an ReadAir. :-) Love the web portability yet can’t live w/o the desktop feel. :-)
  16. SHurleyHall Google Reader because I can use it everywhere and use it offline too. I’ve tried others but always go back to Google.
  17. rachelbeer google, because i use googlemail as main email. use the calendar too. can’t say why i prefer to office. just a googlet
  18. sandielaw Google Reader hands down. I’m never really offline
  19. StephenVerbit check out Lifehacker’s article today about the best RSS newsreaders (http://tinyurl.com/4sabf4)

And as for me, well, I’m on the fence — which is why I asked. But since we’ve got 13 official endorsements for Google Reader, several others who use it but didn’t say specifically that they were all over it, and only three other specific suggestions for other readers, it’s looking to me like Google is the favorite. The Lifehacker article StephenVerbit cited includes five readers (Google is listed first, but I don’t know if that’s necessarily because it’s “best”), with a poll at the end where you can pick your preferred reader.

What reader do YOU use to manage your blog feeds?

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Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • I like having my feeds offline, so I use NetNewsWire for OSX. In addition, I use MarsEdit to create posts for my blogs and the integration between the two apps is quite sweet.

    That said, my content is becoming less focused on providing links. This means the connection between RSS reading and post writing may not be so critical. If I do switch to online, Google will be the reader of choice.

    Jamie Grove – How Not To Write’s last blog post..How to Use Writer’s Block to Fuel Your Writing

  • Marijke May 15, 2008 Link

    Ok, I broke down, I set up Netvibes…. let’s see if I use it now. :-)

    Marijke’s last blog post..Can an artificial hip squeak?

  • ana May 15, 2008 Link

    google reader! (as someone pointed, it’s also an offline reader) :)

    ana’s last blog post..word of the day: ?? = dì zhèn = earthquake

  • ChinaMatt May 16, 2008 Link

    I still haven’t tried using readers. I think I might be technologically impaired… or maybe it’s a new kind of phobia. I just stick with bookmarking what I like.

    ChinaMatt’s last blog post..A Moment for Sichuan

  • Sachendra May 16, 2008 Link

    I use Google reader via browser, but tempted to try ReadAir. Will find out in a day or two if its preferable over browser.

    Sachendra’s last blog post..What is IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

  • Tammy Lenski May 16, 2008 Link

    Kristen, nice marrying of blog and Twitter! I like that you took your informal poll results and used them as the basis for a post…smart and interesting.

    Tammy Lenski’s last blog post..A simple meditation for tense and stressful moments

  • Sachendra May 16, 2008 Link

    Oh dear God, ReadAir is real slow and interaction is clunky. I think I’ll shift back to the browser

    Sachendra’s last blog post..What is IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

  • Heather G. Wells May 16, 2008 Link

    I used to use Google Reader, but I’ve been using NetNewsWire for a couple months now, and I’m pretty happy with it. I might have to switch back to something browser-based, though, when the new iPhones come out, so I can access my feeds on both my MacBook and my iPhone.

  • Blaine Moore May 16, 2008 Link

    I use Google Reader – it is better than any of the offline readers that I tried in terms of speed and functionality, and it makes it easier to check my feeds from multiple locations w/o having to see the same old same old each time.

    Great use of Twitter! I’ll have to try using that method some time. (My Twitter name is BlaineMoore.)

  • Carla Alvarez May 16, 2008 Link

    Neither, I use Netvibes.

    Carla Alvarez’s last blog post..Get Extra Marketing Mileage from Charitable Donations

  • lastminute flüge May 17, 2008 Link

    I like that you took your informal poll results. I use more the good site of google.

    lastminute flüge’s last blog post..Wie sind die Erfahrungen von Urlaubern, die Lastminute Reiseangebote gebucht haben?

  • Diane Penna May 17, 2008 Link

    Definitely GReader. It’s easy to use, personalize, and I’m just a big fan of Google all around.

    Diane Penna’s last blog post..Does Fear Paralyze Your Writing?

  • Brad Shorr May 19, 2008 Link

    Google Reader. I used Bloglines for a couple years but had recurring problems with slow loading. Google Reader is simple and it always hums. Love it.

  • Scot Herrick May 19, 2008 Link

    I use FeedDemon. It is a client that elegantly handles all of my feeds. Additionally, it synchronizes with NewsGator so that, when away from my laptop, I can still see my feeds online. Plus. hitting the “view” option allows you different formats to read your feed.

    I’ve used Google. It’s very popular. I found it clunky.

    Scot Herrick’s last blog post..Serendipity Saturday May 17, 2008

  • Mike Sieber May 19, 2008 Link

    I’ve tried several platforms. I used Bloglines for awhile, but it felt rather clunky. I also used Net News Wire too, but eventually switched to GR because it’s so easy to use and I can access it on any computer.

  • I think I might be technologically impaired… or maybe it’s a new kind of phobia. I just stick with bookmarking what I like.

    versicherung vergleich’s last blog post..Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung – für Selbständige, bald Pflicht ?

  • I like to use Google Reader.I hope its easy and the best.