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AT&T Dropping Usenet Netnews; Low-Cost Alternatives?

Posted by timothy on from the don't-want-to-perish-like-a-fading-horse dept.

franknagy writes "This announcement message has appeared in all the news groups on the AT&T/SBC News Server: 'Please note that on or around July 15, 2009, AT&T will no longer be offering access to the Usenet netnews service. If you wish to continue reading Usenet newsgroups, access is available through third-party vendors.' So what free or low-cost alternatives are available for Netnews and the NNTP services for clients?"

8 of 345 comments (clear)

  1. Is it worth it anymore? by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Unless you are using binaries groups for music or pr0n, is Usenet even worth accessing anymore? I remained dedicated to the network long after most nerds departed because there was still a fairly decent amount of educated discourse on sci.lang and rec.music.classical, but even those groups are no innundated by spambots and most of the most worthwhile conversation partners have moved while only the crotchety remain.

    1. Re:Is it worth it anymore? by Pinky's+Brain · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Access to advise from crotchety old engineers for the price of a little bad manners and spam is in the end a very good deal.

  2. Do you get a discount now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now that they're cutting a portion of the service out - do you get a cut on the monthly rate as well?

  3. Re:it is about time by harryandthehenderson · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I was always wondering why this protocol and all related software have not disappeared yet.

    Because of alt.binaries.*

  4. Re:Google Groups or Astraweb by gilgongo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you actually want to READ and POST text news, then I don't know why anyone would use an NNTP client nowadays. Google Groups is a far superior gateway.

    What?? How is the Google groups UI even remotely better at threading, marking, filtering and generally managing long conversations? Compared to even something like Free Agent it's utterly shit!

    --
    "And the meaning of words; when they cease to function; when will it start worrying you?"
  5. I just wanna say it's terrible by synthespian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'd just like to say it's terrible when ISPs drop Usenet. Usenet is part of the Internet culture.

    --
    Main difference between the BSD license and the GPL license: one is from California and the other is from Massachusetts
    1. Re:I just wanna say it's terrible by jalefkowit · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Usenet is part of the Internet culture.

      You misspelled "history".

      Seriously, the vast, vast majority of Internet users today came online long after Usenet collapsed under its own weight. Only a tiny minority (like me) remember it, and even fewer of those use it with any regularity.

      Culture is a living thing; it evolves. There was a time when Usenet was definitely part of the Internet's culture, but today is not that time.

      --

      Read my blog.

  6. Re:Google Groups or Astraweb by jgrahn · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you are interested in binaries, then I would point you to Astraweb. They have great price plans.

    Or maybe he'd prefer not to feed the kind of parasites who helped destroy Usenet. I have very little respect for people who make others distribute and store their warez for them, using resources intended for learning and discussions. They are on the same level as spammers.