It's been nearly 7 years since since I posted my first article about usenet (link). The
company mentioned in my examples has been out of business for a very long time. But unlike scores of other technologies that are original to the net (before
"The World Wide Web" was invented), Usenet and newsgroup discussions still thrive today.
You can think of Newsgroups the same as "Forums" or discussion boards. Messages are posted and people reply, creating threads. There are thousands and thousands of
discussions (or groups) available, and more added daily. Some newsgroups are conversations, a means to exchange information. Other groups are a source for finding files.
So why don't more people use this technology? Frankly, its not as sexy as a web browser. There is a learning curve. However, with the right tools, the Usenet newsgroups can be
one of the most important tools in your internet toolbelt.
There have been many times that I run into an issue with my code that Google searches and help files can't solve. Sometimes you just have to ask a panel of experts. Thats where newsgroups
come in. These are groups of individuals who enjoy reading, and answering, questions for other people.
To validate the Usenet in general and newsgroups specifically, even Google has created a searchable interface for newsgroup content (check out this Google Groups search for "java.sql"). And Amazon.com carries a host of newsgroup
and usenet related books.
I'm going to resist the temptation to write an updated and complete HOW-TO article on Usenet. Instead, I'll offer the following links to some great software and detailed Usenet information.
Newsgroup Technology:
Newsgroup Software:
Newsgroup Hosts:
