What *IS* the usenet?
 

How does it work? I can connect to a server my ISP runs, which provides me with tons of info. Is this info stored on my isp's server?

Or am i linked to a central 'newsgroup' server which holds all the information that every other newsgroup connects to?

I'm quite intrigued by this. Maybe someone can help me better understand this concept.

usenet is distributed in that different servers carry different groups; there's no central server. Servers carrying the same group communicate with each other to share messages across the internet. When you connect to your isp's newsgroup server, you can only access those groups they choose to carry (though it usually means most of them).

There is no usenet.

paid usenet server is also the place to be if you want full rips of specific records that are no where to befound in both store and the general net.

"rather, realize there is no spoon..."
Sorry, i couldn't help myself.:D

Usenet is basicaly a distributed buliten board system where all servers carrying a group are syncronized so that a post is availbable no matter what server you connect to.
It works in much the same way as the TFP but on a larger decentralized basis in that anyone with access can post and that post will propogate to all servers carrying the group.
There is a group for nearly every interest and long before HTML came around and created graphical web browsing, Usenet was the internet.
Actualy, Usenet grew from Arpanet which was the decentralized computer network of government computers that where able to function in the case of a nuclear attack since there was no central server to destroy, therby maintaining the flow of information.
When Atpanet was opened in to the public, one of it's first worldwide uses was as a decentralized buliten board.
Google groups is a web front end that you can use for access that also has a page devoted to the history of usenet and some of the most famouse posts.
Amongst their archive you can find such things as Linus Trovalds post in the mid 80's seeking people to betatest a little program that now runs most of the major web servers better know as linux and a little mention in 1985 of this new program that's in it's beta stages called windows. It also contains one of the first know discussions of Aids in the early 80's that is in all probability the first time HIV was disscused on a world wide basis of any sort by usenet posters.
History really can be obseved from what has been posted on Usenet.
Just watch out for the trolls. that is after all where the term was coined in the first place:rolleyes:

just a little off topic there arch13? ;)

usenet will become your best friend, i reccomend getting grab it, great program.

junglistic: get a FREE program called XNews (www.xnews.newsguy.com). install it and give it the setup info it needs (you IPs server address, primarily) and then have fun. the XNews interface is very simple and intuitive. and the prog does all the hard work for you. I use xnews on a daily basis and it is easily the best and most rock solid program on my machine.

there are over 100,000 usenet newgroups out there for any and every interest you can think of. you can download ANYTHING from usenet, if you can find someone who has (or who will upon request) posted it.

there are also great discussion groups too.



edit: fixed the link

thanks guys. ive used it a few times before. but it wasnt till last nite that i became quite invovled with it..

the speeds i get off it are insane. obvisously because its off of my ISP. But, there is such a vast amount of data on their, and downloading it all at 800k/sec sure helps.

i love you internet

Sion, that link was un unregistered domain claimed by squatters.
CWSApps' review/download of what I THINK is what you mean.

Xnews and Forte Free Agent are probably the best news readers around, forte is free, but dont have the full features of the bigger news readers.

your news server is usually

news.isp.com