What download manager do you recommend?

Hi all!

I would really love to hear you suggestions on what downloader manager(s) to use (even an add-on for Firefox).

I just wanted to know because I asked my friends, and each use use different ones and cannot decide which can be called "the best" (if there is one).

P.S. I use Vista HPx32.

Thanks!

Witch-King-of-Angmar said:

Hi all!

I would really love to hear you suggestions on what downloader manager(s) to use (even an add-on for Firefox).

I just wanted to know because I asked my friends, and each use use different ones and cannot decide which can be called "the best" (if there is one).

P.S. I use Vista HPx32.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Intenet download manager is the one I'M using. Try it...

Everyone has their own preference. For the last few months I've been using Minefield(Firefox 3.6 pre) with FlashGot addon using GigaGet download engine.

The only thing is it's a good idea to have GigaGet running before letting FlashGot update, or else it tends to revert to the Firefox built-in download manager. Set it to autostart and you should be good.

flashget 2.0 is good try that. I was using IDM before, it has got good speed than others, but it automatically downloads trojans from some sites.

I'm using free download manager, integrates well into firefox

I don't use one. i would be interested in knowing what you all think is the best one too. Do they really work ?.

stoneys-nutz said:

I don't use one. i would be interested in knowing what you all think is the best one too. Do they really work ?.

Click to expand...

All depends what you want it to do. All I care about is being able to resume downloads and throttle their speed as I see fit due to my poor internet connection. You can live without one, but you'll wonder how you did once you get used to using one. I used to use flashgot with firefox, but flashgot is about as dumb as a rock. My dhcp license expired (which in turn forces the user to return to the ISP login page) and all my downloads became corrupted because it downloaded a dozen or so copies of the login page instead of my original downloads. The only other ones I've tried is reget (way back when) and fdm (what I use now), both of which can tell when when the actual server is unavailible.

stoneys-nutz said:

I don't use one. i would be interested in knowing what you all think is the best one too. Do they really work ?.

Click to expand...

Yup. MS used to kick you off if you tried to use a download manager when downloading their stuff(at least I seem to remember that anyway.) Now they insist on it(or at least strongly recommend it.) They open multiple connections and download different slices of the file, similar to how video encoders for multiple core PCs slice up the input video and run an encoder on each slice.

My isp gives sort of a burst of bandwidth when you first start a high demand download. With GigaGet it's ideal for getting those downloads ranging between 8 and 20 MB in size. The "burst" is typically about 3 times the sustained download max, but only lasts for a few seconds. GigaGet maxes it out so typically I can get a 12 or 16 or 20 MB download in those few seconds. For large downloads like in the 100s of MB then it maxes out my bandwidth(assuming of course the server allows you the throughput.)

Servers used to kick off download managers. Now I think they like them because you are using a lot of bandwidth, but you are only tying up their server for a fraction of the time. Get your download done, let the next client connect etc..

The thing is, my internet connection is fast (16Mbs), and reliable, so i have never felt the need to use one. Lucky really, after years of 56K dialup.

Hi Witch-King-of-Angmar

I have always used Conceiva's 'DownloadStudio' and am happy to recommend it.

DownloadStudio - Internet Download Manager & Download Accelerator - Download files, pictures, audio, video, web sites and FTP sites fast!

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards

Neil

Can't say I'd ever be to keen on paying for a download manager with all the free alternatives/addons out

I just tried one of my friends' download managers on his computer. It is called "Supersonic Download Accelerator". Does anyone know if it is any good?

In the meantime, I tried the Firefox Add-ons "FlashGot" and "DownloadHelper".

BTW What is "Gigaget" that MilesAhead is using? (I didn't check it out yet)

I'll try IDM and DownloadStudio when I get a chance! Thanks for your help everyone!

Forgot to say I have an unresolved problem with Office 2003 (most likely a very simple solution, but I'm no expert!). If you can, check it out:

http://www.vistax64.com/microsoft-office/234810-access-2003-a.html

Thanks!