I personally recommending using GrabIT on windows, just seemed like easy to use and stable.
[on linux i use pan]
for the tutorials, check out:
http://slyck.com/ng.php [newsgroups in general]
http://slyck.com/agent.php [for forte agent]
http://slyck.com/xnews.php [xnews]
as for groups,
try out:
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.full_albums [may take an hour+ to download headers]
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.complete_cd [may take an hour+ to download headers]
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.[full decade] [i.e. 1990s] [2000s; etc.]
if you want a specific genre, just ask here or search on newzbin...
[btw - i second the newzbin.com - makes searching very easy
]
have fun,
keyshawn