Just wondering what a rough split is of people using either Usenet, torrents, or both?

I’ve only just discovered Usenet and while it is paid, it is very cheap and much more convenient than torrents.

Using torrents as well with the *arr suite set up for my various Linux ISOs.

  • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    6 months ago

    I have no idea what to do or how to even get started with Usenet, so I just use a VPN and torrent as needed.

    • bzxt@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      6 months ago

      I am also in that basket. To me Usenet seems like another, older protocol that achieves practically the same thing. If someone is more knowledgeble, feel free to correct me or explain further.

  • Nyarlathotep@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    1·
    6 months ago

    100% Usenet here. Maybe I am basic, but it has everything I want and grabbing stuff is very easy.

    Once in a great while I cannot find something and then I ask a friend to check his private trackers.

    YMMV

  • NotBadAndYou@ttrpg.networkEnglish
    1·
    6 months ago

    Usenet as daily driver works 99% of the time. Only use VPN/torrents for extremely new or very obscure shows. $5/month pays for unlimited Usenet and VPN.

    • kamiheku@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      1·
      6 months ago

      Only use VPN/torrents for extremely new or very obscure shows

      Interesting, I would have thought torrents would be better for older stuff due to their theoretically infinite retention. Like, can you find, say, LOTR: The Return of the King on Usenet at the moment? Someone has to have uploaded it in the past ~2 years (retention period) or something for it to be available, right?

      • Footnote2669@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        6 months ago

        LOTR = anything from 4K HDR 7.1 Atmos, down to DVD is available (theoretically, as you can have items that exists, but can’t be fully downloaded so don’t work, because of DMCA and other things). The oldest release I see is 5800 days old and the newest is 4 days old. So people keep reuploading stuff if it’s popular enough. (I still can’t find some episodes of Ben 10 tv show lol)

      • davidfreina@lemmy.davidfreina.atEnglish
        1·
        6 months ago

        Afaik most usenet providers have a retention period of 3000+ days (some even reaching 4000+). I’ve downloaded multiple things from the 90s without any problems. The oldest media in my collection is from 1957, so retention really isn’t a problem I would say.