What is Usenet? Why do I care?
[Summary: Usenet overview; message
teleconference]
What is Usenet?
Usenet has been
described as a one-to-many teleconferencing system. But unlike the
"in-real-time" interactive methods of a teleconference, Usenet operates more
like e-mail: you read and post complete messages (called "articles") at your own
convenience. Discussions on a topic can last days, weeks, or
months.
Why do I care?
Well, people with similar
interests will have something to discuss as long as interactive conversations
are possible. No matter what your interest(s) you can probably find a Usenet
discussion group (called "newsgroup") where it is discussed. Hobbies, politics,
sports, technical information, philosophy, it is all there.
How to access Usenet
[Summary: Usenet client overview; Usenet
reader overview; Usenet server overview]
In order to read Usenet articles,
you need two things:
- news reader software (also known as a "client")
- This software which provides a convenient user interface to list, track
and
display articles. It also allows composing and submitting new
articles.
There are many free versions of news reader software, and a
news reader is
built into many Internet Browsers. More details on client
software
- Access to a news server
- A news server is a computer system which provides shared storage for
Usenet articles. In most cases, news servers are accessed using the
Internet,
but it can be done over a LAN, if a news server exists on the
LAN.
Most internet service subscribtions include access to a news
server which you
can use. In order to keep demand down, most news servers
are not open
to the general public: they are reserved for exclusive use by
customers.
All you need to know is the newsserver machine name, which
you use to
configure the client software.
Usenet RKT : More details on client
software
Usenet RKT: Trouble with news reader
software
Usenet RKT : (coming later!)How news gets to
you
Usenet RKT : What is Usenet? Why do I
care?
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Copyright 1997, Forrest J. Cavalier III, Mib Software, INN customization and consulting