The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Have You Tried Melb PC Newsgroups? Gail Pamphilon |
These days, newsgroups are more popular than ever, and it seems there is a newsgroup for every occasion. There is even a newsgroup called alt.fan.bill-gates!
Our readers can find a newsgroup to suit every purpose, and if the newsgroup they want is not available on their news server, they can read it online via Google Groups http://groups.google.com/. If you like tatting, science fiction or Esperanto, look for a newsgroup on the subject. If you are worried about menopause or prostate cancer, join a newsgroup and learn from the experience of others.
But there are some newsgroups that many members may not be aware of, may not have bothered with, or think would not benefit them. I am referring to Melb PC's very own newsgroups. The main focus is the newsgroup 'melbpc.general', but there are several others, covering a range of topics.
How many members have not thought to 'consult the oracle' by reading their own club's newsgroups? You can ask for help on any subject, not confined to computer-related subjects, advertise an item for sale or just join in the general chit-chat. There is a community spirit on melbpc.general that is equivalent to the glory days of the club's BBS, which is now largely unused.
Did you know that all members can now access the newsgroups, not just Internet subscribers? While you are logged onto the Intranet to collect your e-mail and look around a little, you can collect daily postings from our club's private newsgroups. Incidentally, these newsgroups are not archived in Google Groups and are not broadcast to the outside world, unless someone cross posts from an outside newsgroup. They are available to members only.
Come on in, the water's fine!
Reprinted from the December 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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