Best download manager
- Thread starter duku
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Try StarDownloader (free) or IDA
I have installed every download manager I have found available and have come to the following conclusion:
Less Is More...
That is to say that programs like DAP, FLASHGET, REGET, GET, GOZILLA, etc. all offer a lot of cool features but at a hefty overhead--Taxing on the RAM. Not to mention the fact that even though I download a lot of things every day, I just don't want to have to struggle through the learning curve to max the potential of these programs. Sounds wimpy? Maybe....
I have found, however, that IDA (Internet Download Accellerator) works great, has a small footprint, nice interface, lots of features, easy-to-use, etc. It's only problem is that it tends to be a little too persistent on mass-downloads--as though it refuses to cancel them when you ask it to.
Lately, however, I have been using StarDownloader (free) and have had NO problems. It's such a simple, tiny little program that really makes things go much smoother/faster. The only problem is that it doesn't have USERNAME/Password passing. Maybe next update?
--Jase
I have installed every download manager I have found available and have come to the following conclusion:
Less Is More...
That is to say that programs like DAP, FLASHGET, REGET, GET, GOZILLA, etc. all offer a lot of cool features but at a hefty overhead--Taxing on the RAM. Not to mention the fact that even though I download a lot of things every day, I just don't want to have to struggle through the learning curve to max the potential of these programs. Sounds wimpy? Maybe....
I have found, however, that IDA (Internet Download Accellerator) works great, has a small footprint, nice interface, lots of features, easy-to-use, etc. It's only problem is that it tends to be a little too persistent on mass-downloads--as though it refuses to cancel them when you ask it to.
Lately, however, I have been using StarDownloader (free) and have had NO problems. It's such a simple, tiny little program that really makes things go much smoother/faster. The only problem is that it doesn't have USERNAME/Password passing. Maybe next update?
--Jase
DSL Doesn't Help Guarantee ZIP Stability
Just because you have DSL or equivalent, doesn't mean that a downloader isn't still useful. For example. services like EasyNews (the best News service, by far) offer some interesting ways to download binary attachments by zipping them together and downloading them via your browser. Without a download manager/accellerator, any ZIP file over 500Mb tends to risk corruption. A download manager works wonders.
I recently used an OC3 connection and can honestly state that there was no need for any download management software (it seemed to pull up files faster than it could from the internal hard drive--not possible I know, but fast nonetheless.) Even at Comcast's new 5 Mb bandwidth (which I get consistently lately!) I find that it's sometimes best to have a DM handy.
Also, since some places charge per download, it's a good idea to get it right the first time.
my 2 cents....
Jase
Just because you have DSL or equivalent, doesn't mean that a downloader isn't still useful. For example. services like EasyNews (the best News service, by far) offer some interesting ways to download binary attachments by zipping them together and downloading them via your browser. Without a download manager/accellerator, any ZIP file over 500Mb tends to risk corruption. A download manager works wonders.
I recently used an OC3 connection and can honestly state that there was no need for any download management software (it seemed to pull up files faster than it could from the internal hard drive--not possible I know, but fast nonetheless.) Even at Comcast's new 5 Mb bandwidth (which I get consistently lately!) I find that it's sometimes best to have a DM handy.
Also, since some places charge per download, it's a good idea to get it right the first time.
my 2 cents....
Jase
poertner_1274
Posts: 3,874 +3
StarDowload is the best one as far as free goes. I have recommended it many times.
Mictlantecuhtli
Posts: 4,049 +13
Re: DSL Doesn't Help Guarantee ZIP Stability
Why's that? I haven't used download managers other than what browsers have builtin, and I haven't had any file corruption problems (related to network connection at least).
UncleGemboel
Posts: 35 +0
I choose Flashget, you get good speed and better integration. Well speed not as fast as Dap can go, but still i love this download manager. I hav prob with dap when merge multiple temp file i download, many times output become corrupt, with flashget i got 0% file corrupt.
I use Fresh Download from http://www.freshdevices.com and it works great for me. You can just tell it the location to download from, it will connect and download it. You can tell it where to download to on your computer, it is fast and it has a pause/resume function that always works for me. A very good piece of freeware, with no spyware or adware included. 
me(who else?)
Posts: 329 +0
I use the built in download manager in Netscape 7.0. It's free, it doesn't require an extra download and it doesn't take up any extra hard disk space cause it comes with netscape by default.
poertner_1274
Posts: 3,874 +3
Yes, DAP is the most used, but I think StarDownloader is the winner!!!!
And what I say goes.............right out the window
And what I say goes.............right out the window
poertner_1274
Posts: 3,874 +3
About the only thing I sould think you would be able to play partially downloaded are movies or songs. Just create a little buffer for where you are currently while it still downloads, but I don't see how this would be feasable for software
Mictlantecuhtli
Posts: 4,049 +13
Copy the partial file to somewhere - because Windows doesn't allow playing them if they're being used (makes me wonder why copying is allowed) - and play with VLC media player.
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