It's really not complicated... To get on the Usenet is a bit like getting on the internet. You need a Usenet provider as well as a browser. A Usenet browser is typically referred to as a reader or a newsreader.
Nowadays, there are all-in-one Usenet solutions like Binverse that make it as easy to use as Bit Torrent. However, if you want speed, it's still best to use a separate Usenet provider and a newsreader with good features that make it easy to find and download the content you want.
Who to go with? Options are many. Some usenet providers and newsreaders are free, others not. In fact most ISPs give access to some newsgroups at no extra costs. To tap into these groups netizens often use a free newsreader tool such as the one provided by Outlook Express.
Of course you get what you don't pay for; this kind of access is usually limited to discussion groups only with zero attachment capability.
Nowadays, there are all-in-one Usenet solutions like Binverse that make it as easy to use as Bit Torrent. However, if you want speed, it's still best to use a separate Usenet provider and a newsreader with good features that make it easy to find and download the content you want.
Who to go with? Options are many. Some usenet providers and newsreaders are free, others not. In fact most ISPs give access to some newsgroups at no extra costs. To tap into these groups netizens often use a free newsreader tool such as the one provided by Outlook Express.
Of course you get what you don't pay for; this kind of access is usually limited to discussion groups only with zero attachment capability.
1. Get A Usenet Provider Our favorite Usenet provider: Giganews | Binverse
To get the most out of Usenet, it's worth spending a little each month to get a popular provider with access to as many newsgroups as possible. It also makes sense to get a provider with the largest bandwidth possible, the longest data retention period , best completion rates and best security features such as SSL encryptions.
Want to know who's the best and worth your ? Just check out this comparison table where we've done the math for you.
Then, you need to figure out what kind of plan to go for and get an account, again much like to subscribing to an ISP. Except that your main concern with Usenet plans is tied with the number of gigabytes of information you can download per month, as opposed(?) to the number of hours you can use the internet.
Typically, the best plans let you have unlimited download.
To get the most out of Usenet, it's worth spending a little each month to get a popular provider with access to as many newsgroups as possible. It also makes sense to get a provider with the largest bandwidth possible, the longest data retention period , best completion rates and best security features such as SSL encryptions.
Want to know who's the best and worth your ? Just check out this comparison table where we've done the math for you.
Then, you need to figure out what kind of plan to go for and get an account, again much like to subscribing to an ISP. Except that your main concern with Usenet plans is tied with the number of gigabytes of information you can download per month, as opposed(?) to the number of hours you can use the internet.
Typically, the best plans let you have unlimited download.
2. Next, Download a Newsreader Our favorite Newsreaders: Newsleecher (PC) | Unison (Mac) Again there are many free reader softwares out there. Most of them give you access to text-only messages 
without attachments, and some (be warned!) are infested with spywares.
So again, it's worth spending a tiny bit of money - the cost is only a fraction of provider fees - to get a fast, efficient and user-friendly newsreader. And for those who are frequently downloading large files, besides fast, efficient and user-friendly, you're better off getting a newsreader with NZB indexing and decoding capabilities.
Once downloaded, your newsreader will request details of your Usenet provider, such as the server url, and your account username and password. Fill those in and you're on!
without attachments, and some (be warned!) are infested with spywares. So again, it's worth spending a tiny bit of money - the cost is only a fraction of provider fees - to get a fast, efficient and user-friendly newsreader. And for those who are frequently downloading large files, besides fast, efficient and user-friendly, you're better off getting a newsreader with NZB indexing and decoding capabilities.
Once downloaded, your newsreader will request details of your Usenet provider, such as the server url, and your account username and password. Fill those in and you're on!