This page is not only for those who don't know how to use a newsgroup.

Newsgroup is a network tool, with which we can exchange information(like usc.forsale). Specially for our course newsgroup, you are encouraged to post questions about course materials/homeworks/lab/project, show off the design that makes you proud, and display your new ideas. The course newsgroup will be checked by instructor/lab assistant/TA frequently to provide possible helps, but it is more encouraged to have students' discussions and interactions here.

Anyone who has an account on aludra(or nunki) will be able to post messages in this course newsgroup. And together with your textual message, you can include images as attachments. I am assuming most of you have access to Netscape(either on a PC or on a workstation), so if anyone don't have and don't know how to use the newsgroup, please contact TA seperately.

• To Start Our Course Newsgroup, you either:
  • Click the "Course Newsgroup" link in previous page (or right here), or
  • Fill "news:usc.class.csci445" as your URL in Netscape Navigator.
  And a new window for the newsgroup will appear.


• To View Messages: After you did the above, the topics of news in this newsgroup will appear in the window(maybe you have to wait for a few seconds if you computer or network connection is slow). Click any topic you are interested in and the content of the message will appear below.


• To Post Your Own Message: This is just like you send an email with Netscape(actually it is). Click the botton "New Message" in the toolbar and a composition window will appear. You can add a topic and compose your text. After finishing, click botton "Send". If you are posting the first message, you will be asked to fill in your login name in aludra/nunki, and your password. You will not be able to see your message sent to the newsgroup immedietely(just as your friend can not get the email you sent to him immedietely). But don't worry, after a couple of minutes, you can click the "Get Msg" button to retrieve new messages(as you do to get new emails) and then you will find your message posted.


• To Include Images: Sometimes you want to post your robot design, and you may need to include an image. In the composition window, you can attach the image to the message by clicking the "Attach" button. Make sure you use the popular image formats, such as GIF, JPG, BMP. What I am suggesting is JPG since it is compressed and is supported by most browers.


• To Get New Messages: The new messages sent to the newsgroup will not automatically go to your screen unless you click the "Get Msg" button each time you want to check new messages.

Any other questions should be directed to TA .