Hey there Michael!

I'm sorry, but that's not possible with the current version

However, this is a great idea! I'll try my best in telling the developers about this but they are a bit swamped at the moment. However, you can also suggest the idea here EasyDiscuss Voices. This will make it easier for them

As for the ETA on the newest version of EasyDiscuss, the alpha version will be released quite soon! Stay tuned for the announcement from our Marketing Team

Could you possibly point me to the files in which i could use to hack this together. IE the file that generates the new comment - adds a new comment to the post.

and the file that fires when a post is read - how this is determined.

This following file is show the comment listing and the saving part :
JoomlaFolder\components\com_easydiscuss\themes\simplistic\post.reply.comments.php
- display a list of comment from the post

JoomlaFolder\components\com_easydiscuss\views\comment\view.ajax.php
- comment saving part

How the post 'NEW' status work :
JoomlaFolder\components\com_easydiscuss\themes\simplistic\frontpage.post.php
- This file will display the frontend listing and determined which post that current user still haven't read yet.
- The system will check from this table -> #__discuss_users -> post_read column

JoomlaFolder\administrator\components\com_easydiscuss\tables\profile.php (read function)
- will update which post already read and store in this table -> #__discuss_users -> post_read column

Hope this will help.