What are Usenet newsgroups, exactly? Usenet newsgroups have been around since the 1980s, and were originally a primitive kind of social network, using plain text messages. The network was divided into groups devoted to specific topics, reflected in the name of each newsgroup.

However, it wasn't long before people worked out ways to post binary files to these newsgroupsUsenet newsgroups can also be used for posting binaries, such as pictures, music, and full motion video files. Today, with the widespread use of broadband connections, binary files account for the overwhelming share of usenet newsgroup traffic, although the discussion groups are still there.

Groups dedicated to binary files will usually have the word "binary" in them, as "alt.binaries.boneless".

Binary Usenet newsgroups are not like file sharing programs, such as Bittorrent. There are some similarities; for example, when a file is posted to one Usenet server, it shared, or propagated, to all the others. However, you can only download a file from Bittorrent if it is being shared by someone else right at that moment. Once a file is posted to a Usenet newsgroup, it stays available 24 hours a day, until the post expires.

The length of time before the post expires is called the retention time. Retention times vary very widely, from just a few days on Usenet servers run by ISPs, to up to a year and even sometimes longer for premium servers. Another thing that distinguishes the premium servers is that the propagation works better; the posted files are usually complete, whereas on the ISP servers they are often broken.

People are sometimes put off from using Usenet newsgroups because getting started seems complicated and difficult. But it's not really that hard. Here is what you do:

Step 1 - Subscribe to a premium news server

Even though it costs a little money, it's best it is a good investment to get access to a news server with good completion, retention, and speed, rather than relying on an ISP server.

Step 2 - Get a newsreader

This is a program that interfaces with, and downloads from, the Usenet news server. Sort of like the way a web browser interfaces with the web, or an email client downloads email. If you want a good, simple, easy-to-learn free newsreader, I would suggest Grabit. Remember, it's free.