Because of the heavy storage requirements, most ISPs don't offer Usenet access. However Google, as well as other specialty services, do offer access to current and archived Usenet message traffic. A variety of specialty software packages, called newsgroup readers, are available to browse and download newsgroup content.

Background     Perl Newsgroups

Browsing Searches

Newsreaders     Newsgroup Services

The value of Usenet newsgroups cannot be overstated! I use them all the time to research technical problems I'm having, plus I answer questions in the newsgroups to give back as much as I take!

Browsing Newsgroups
There are two basic ways to browse the messages found in the Usenet newsgroups. You can use your browser or you can use one of the specialty programs, called newsreaders (short for Usenet Newsgroup Readers).

Web Based Newsgroup Browsing

• Google
• Interbulletin
• Mailgate
• News2Web
• Randori News
• WebNews-Exchange

Be aware that Google allows you to create your own groups (similar to Yahoo Groups), which are not part of the Usenet. Nonetheless, Google combines the display of their proprietary groups and those of the Usenet.

Service companies and ISPs do not carry Google proprietary groups in their Usenet offerings. You can only access Google proprietary groups on the Google website.

Newsreaders
To use readers, you must first have access to the newsgroups through your ISP or through a specialty service. Because of the heavy storage requirements, most ISPs don't support newsgroup access, so the specialty services are your only option. Most newsgroup access is available for rates from $3-$10 per month, depending on the volume of traffic (text and files) you download.

See my Newsgroup Services section for more information.