Freeware news/usenet reader program?

[Maxxarcade]

I'm looking for a good free program that I can use to access and download from news/usenet servers. I forgot what they are called, nntp is it? Such as rec.games.whatever?

I used to use outlook express years ago, but I don't remember any of the servers that carried the groups I'm looking for.

[stretch0069]

Re: Freeware news/usenet reader program?

I have Thunderbird....unfortunately, I don't use it enough to give you a good review. However...its got two things going for it.........its free and its not Billy-ware.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Freeware news/usenet reader program?

Opera has a built in News reader

[willawake]

Re: Freeware news/usenet reader program?

i dont think a browser or also outlook based newsreader will cut it. I used to use forte agent but now i use newsbin which a heavy usenet user friend assured me is the best. Forte used to offer free agent also but now it is discontinued.

I havent used newsbin for downloading headers though. I think that way of using usenet for file downloading is kinda old now. With many groups the level of headers is ridiculous. So i use nzb search engines like binsearch there is quite a few. some of the good ones are subscription though. Here is another one nzbsrus which i was looking at today but didnt use yet. Here is a paid one newzbin There is also forum based nzb sharing ones but with some if you dont contribute then you get kicked.

nzb explained by wikipedia

newsbin works really great for nzb and for $35 with free upgrades for life you really cant complain. if you want it for reading headers though, i cant give an opinion about that at the moment. I havent been bothered to work that way.

If you want to do serious usenet though you will need a quality news service. i would recommend giganews which i have had zero problem with and now they have 170 day retention. If you use an ISP's news server or whatever you will be lucky to get all the parts of files you want. Simply because running a news service with 99% completion and many days retention is a serious endeavour requiring fucking huge storage and anyway you would be lucky to get all the "cool" groups....

so i pay $13 a month for giganews for 25 gigs of download. the next level is $25 for unlimited. seems expensive but not really if you download stuff regularly. payment is monthly by credit card which is cool also.

other shit you would need

z-zip (Free) - better chance of success with rars posted on usenet
quickpar (Free) - For when you got some fucked up parts and need to use par files to make new ones.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Freeware news/usenet reader program?

Well, my recommendation above is way off, I thought you only wanted the News part, not the Warez :P

Any way, how can a software made for soley downloading warez and porn illegally be sold, has anyone in the history except for Willa paid for this stuff? Haha, just joking with ya mate

[willawake]

Re: Freeware news/usenet reader program?

who gives a shit? i didnt pay for anything else......