Duke To Shut Down Usenet Server

DukeTech writes "This week marks the end of an era for one of the earliest pieces of Internet history, which got its start at Duke University more than 30 years ago. On May 20, Duke will shut down its Usenet server, which provides access to a worldwide electronic discussion network of newsgroups started in 1979 by two Duke graduate students, Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis." Rantastic and other readers wrote about the shutdown of the British Usenet indexer Newzbin today; the site sank under the weight of a lawsuit and outstanding debt. Combine these stories with the recent news of Microsoft shuttering its newsgroups, along with other recent stories, and the picture does not look bright for Usenet.

Comments

That's how it starts

[Thanshin]

First they closer Limewire

First they closed the usenets.

When they came for my router, it was to replace it with a FTTH.

And it was good. ...

Wait... I think I fracked up that one. What were we talking about?

Re:A twinge of sadness at this passing

[toby]

back then the internet was totally free

It was? Funny, I remember my ISP wanted to be paid...

Re:...and there's still no comparable alternative.

[Anonymous Coward]

This is my current pet-peeves : flat forum and phpBB are killing the art of internet discussion.

Oh, how painfully, painfully true.

I feel like I've departed the internet age of letters and found myself in the age of tweets.

Anonymous Coward likes this.

Kibo?

[BenEnglishAtHome]

Are you there?