is usenet (newsgroups) any good?

[dpopiz]

I've tried usenet a few times in the past, just through Google Groups, but they always seem kind of hard to use compared to web-based proprietary forums like AT.

I like how usenet is so structured though, so I kinda want to use it. is there any sort of really well designed client out there or something?

 

[fumbduck]

it's good for porn

edit: so i'm told =P

 

[MBony]

bump

 

[TommyVercetti]

Outlook Express is the only way I know how to use Newsgroups.

 

[mugs]

It used to be good... Now it's not so great, not because the technology isn't good, but because of the way the Internet has progressed. Most people don't use USENET (unless they want porn or warez or whatever else) anymore, because it's not web-based. Google groups is alright if you can't access a newsserver, but it's pretty piss-poor compared to the real deal. It also doesn't use a centralized sever, so it takes a while for your messages to move through all of the servers, and for the responses to get back to your server.

Edit: I used to be as addicted to USENET as I am to AnandTech... I refused to use any web-based forums, because the web-based forum software back then was crap. I think web-based forums beat USENET now. There's a forum out there for everything.

 

[DaveJ]

The best reader software out there (for non-binary groups, anyway) is Forte Agent

Dave

 

[dpopiz]

Originally posted by: mugs
I think web-based forums beat USENET now. There's a forum out there for everything.

yeah, but see here's the reason I'm still interested in usenet: even though there's a web-based forum for everything now, a lot of them use really crappy web forum software, and even if they use good software, you still have to deal with a slightly different interface for each one, a different account for each one, and usually very slow performance

 

[xXped0thugXx]

newzbin or grabit

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: xXped0thugXx
newzbin or grabit

I don't think he's interested in binaries.

 

[cricky]

I used to be big into newsgroups years and years ago (pre-Web). The funny thing, the VAX terminals we had at our schools had the BEST newsreader I had ever used. It was so easy to use and everything just made sense how it worked. I have never found one that worked so well since.

Grabit for binaries though, definately. I still find a use for the old NNTP.

 

[CFster]

Usenet rules. I spend the majority of my online time there.

I use Giganews as a service with XNews as my reader.

Napster, Kazaa? I laugh at thee. I've DL'd way more stuff off usenet than has ever been available anywhere else.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

thats kinda like asking if HTTP or FTP are any good

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
thats kinda like asking if HTTP or FTP are any good

Not really. Maybe if he had asked "is NNTP any good?"

 

[dighn]

with google group search it's a very good source of information

often returns more relevant results than a web search

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: fumbduck
it's good for porn

edit: so i'm told =P

Quick! Hide the hair that has built up on the palms of your hands.

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: dighn
with google group search it's a very good source of information

often returns more relevant results than a web search

Actually, if you're looking for specific binary releases, NFONews.com is pretty quick and accurate with their info Linkified.

I've actually gotten away from the Bittorrent and Emule and DC scene, as I seem to find what I'm looking for much quicker and can get it MUCH faster on Usenet. You just need a good newsreader. I use Agent, and it works great for me.

 

[Aves]

I'm starting to think that most people don't realize that there is more to USENET that binaries.

 

[Mark R]

Usenet is like forums - but with 10s of thousands of forums and a much much bigger audience.

Usenet has been around for years - I've certianly used it for about 10 years (even wrote a client for it when I was at high school).

Advantages are the huge volume of messages and wide audience - together with off-line reading and collection capabilities of a good client. One mouse click and all the messages are retrieved, and ready for browsing/searching off-line (a godsend back when 'net access was pay by the second). Outlook express does an acceptable job - though there are better clients.

Disadvantages are the pure text based nature of it, and that there may be considerable propagation delay (perhaps 12-24 hours) before your message is available to everyone who might want it.

 

[CFster]

Originally posted by: aves2k
I'm starting to think that most people don't realize that there is more to USENET that binaries.

There is, but unfortunately being unmoderated - every kind of crackpot is in every newsgroup flaming away and nobody can do anything about it. Hey I'm all for free speech, but to have a serious discussion you need somebody moderating these days.

 

[Raiden256]

D/L'ing multi-part binary pr0n attachments using tin, uudecoding, then saving them on floppy in the computer lab....

<sigh>

I miss 1994.

 

[Led Zeppelin]

No, newsgroups suck, now forget you ever heard of them, and delete this post!!!!

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: CFster

Originally posted by: aves2k
I'm starting to think that most people don't realize that there is more to USENET that binaries.

There is, but unfortunately being unmoderated - every kind of crackpot is in every newsgroup flaming away and nobody can do anything about it. Hey I'm all for free speech, but to have a serious discussion you need somebody moderating these days.

Yeah, the flaming and threats found in some groups is totally out of control. However, there still exists an enormous amount of great technical info on usenet.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: dighn
with google group search it's a very good source of information

often returns more relevant results than a web search

Actually, if you're looking for specific binary releases, NFONews.com is pretty quick and accurate with their info Linkified.

I've actually gotten away from the Bittorrent and Emule and DC scene, as I seem to find what I'm looking for much quicker and can get it MUCH faster on Usenet. You just need a good newsreader. I use Agent, and it works great for me.

im talking about actual information here, not "information"

 

[dpopiz]

ok great binaries...yeah.

but what's a decent server for TALKING? all the servers I connect to refuse to let me post.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: dpopiz
ok great binaries...yeah.

but what's a decent server for TALKING? all the servers I connect to refuse to let me post.

your isp's server should be more than good enough for discussions