Content area
Full Text
With many search engines, databases, multiple search engines, and general finding aids, the first decision to make when searching the Net is not only which searching tool to use, but also which part of the Internet to search. Many of us probably rely most heavily upon searching the Web, but the Internet is more than just the Web.
The communications side of the Internet is found in email, chat groups, and other virtual communities. While much of this communication is never archived, the discussion groups on Usenet news are archived and searchable. While Usenet abounds with the superfluous, innocuous, and mundane, it can be mined for the occasional gem. Thus, Usenet search tools can be an important part of the searcher's arsenal.
For those unfamiliar with Usenet and those who have successfully ignored it for years, there are easier methods for browsing and searching these rantings, ravings, and opinions of thousands of Netizens. Usenet newsgroups, or discussion groups as they are often labeled these days, consist of groups of people discussing various issues. Similar to email lists, newsgroups cover a wide variety of interests. However, rather than clogging up an email box, newsgroups are broadcast for anyone to read. While older messages expire on local Usenet news servers, some services, such as DejaNews, archive the old postings. And it is these Usenet archives that offer access to information that may not be found elsewhere on the Net.
WHY SEARCH USENET ARCHIVES?
Newsgroup archives offer several important sources of information that may not be found elsewhere online. If you are looking for authoritative, reliable information, Usenet should not be the first choice. But for information on people, personal experiences with products, competitive intelligence, individual stories from news events, and breaking news, Usenet can be an important resource.
For the minority of Internet users who do participate in Usenet news, searching Usenet becomes a very useful way to find information about those people. With the ability to search an archive like DejaNews by author, a profile of an individual's interests and Usenet activity becomes quickly apparent. For many, their use of newsgroups consists of personal interests and hobbies only, while others may be involved in both personal and professional interests.
For many products, especially computing-related ones like...