Alright .. I got a handle on "the big three" ... what are my options for a newsgroup provider?
Remember we talked about FREE and PAY? As you might have ALREADY guessed, FREE newsgroup providers don't clock in well on the 'big three' - while PAY services vary on price, performance, and retention.
If you just want to "dabble" in newsgroups, you CAN use your Internet Service Provider's newsgroup feeds. If you have Cox@Home, you can use Cox's own newsgroup servers to sample what is out there. This is free to you. HOWEVER; retention is usually ONE DAY at best, completeness is usually well under 50%, but the speeds are usually VERY good (since you're not leaving their network to download).
So that leaves PAY services. With the popularity of newsgroups on the rise, more and more companies are involved with providing you with the service of providing great feeds. The services are a monthly fee, ranging anywhere from $10-$20 or more. The 'big three' will determine what you pay.
I guess we better talk about QUOTA.
Quota?
Some pay providers limit HOW MUCH you can download in a given month. EasyNews, for example, charges $9.98 for 20GB of transfer. Sound like a lot? Think that one DVD is 4GB in size - one CD is about half a GB in size. 20GB isn't a lot for some; for others, it might be all you need.
Other pay services let you download a certain amount each month, or - they let you download as much as you want, but they slow down how fast you can get the stuff in return. You really have to do some math and figure out what your needs are and be sure to pay the right amount for the speed and delivery options.
We recommend Newshosting ($23 a month, no quota, 400+ day retention and up to 20 threads). Click one of the Newshosting buttons found on the page for more information.
We recommend Newshosting for your Usenet Needs
|
