rec.efi.diy newsgroup?

[Stuart Hastings]

Nobody has yet suggested we turn the DIY-EFI list into a Usenet
Newsgroup. This may be a stupid idea, but I won't know until somebody
explains *why* it's a stupid idea.

Pro:

1) Distribution is decentralized, automatic, and free to posters and
readers.

2) Most newsreader programs make it easy to avoid reading stuff that
doesn't interest you. Similar to the non-digest form of this list.

3) Network News Spam seems to be relatively well-controlled nowadays
(at least on the groups I follow); spam that gets through is easily
ignored.

Con:

1) Many folks on this list may not be familiar with Usenet News,
and/or unable to receive News.

2) Distribution is not instantaneous; postings may take an extra day
or two to reach far-flung recipients.

3) I don't personally know how to get a new newsgroup
constituted. Surely someone reading this does; perhaps that
intelligent person can explain to me, and the list, Gently, why this
is a stupid idea :-) .

Asides:

1) Still need a low-bandwith server somewhere to archive digests and
serve ftp requests.

Interested readers unfamilar with Usenet News are advised to try
reading "rec.autos.tech" to see what News is like. I believe both
Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer have a facility for
reading News. Reading Network News is very similar to reading the
non-digest form of this list, except that you must use a "Newsreader"
client, instead of an "Email" client.

Here are approximate directions to subscribe-to and read
"rec.autos.tech" using Netscape Communicator (v4.7 under Solaris,
anyway). Sorry, I'm not familiar with Internet Explorer, but I'm sure
it's similar.

a) Pull down "Communicator: Newsgroups".
b) In the new Newsgroups window that pops up, pull down "File:
Subscribe".
c) In the newest window, locate the "rec.*" line, and open it.
d) Scroll down to "rec.autos.tech" and highlight it.
e) Click "Subscribe".
f) Click "OK". The topmost window will go away.
g) Doubleclick the newgroup you chose in step d). A new window should
pop up, and if everything worked, you should be able to "read News."

stuart hastings