Reading Newsgroups


Getting a newsreader 
    A newsreader is a program that has the ability to connect to the newsserver, retrieve a list of newsgroups, and then retrieve messages in the newsgroups of your choice. Most browsers (Netscape, Explorer) come with newsreaders. There's also the Gravity newsreader that's part of the Bear Access package that you get from Cornell. You'll have to get and set up a newsreader on your own (or ask CIT for help).


Subscribing: 
Now, for the easy part. Once everything is set, go into the part of the newsreader that lets you subscribe to newsgroups. Either you will have to type the group you want to subscribe to in, or you will choose it from thousands available. You want cornell.class.cs280. In fact, if you configured everything beautifully, when you click on the link above, you should be taken to that newsgroup. From here on, using the newsgroup is exactly like reading your e-mail. You read the messages, you post them to the newsgroup. (Alternatively you can reply to the author, but that way the concept of healthy discussion is killed off at birth.) 


You are done.