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Ask Download Squad: What's the best download manager?
Last week, we asked you to tell us whether you actually use widgets. Turns out quite a few of you do, and some of you even use Apple's Dashboard instead of Yahoo's Konfabulator. But it looks like, for most of you, there's still no killer app making widget programss must-run tools. Here's this week's question:If you're reading this, chances are you do a lot of downloading (that's just a lucky guess). And if you download using a browser, chances are you've swapped out its built-in download manager for a replacement, in order to take advantage of features like auto-resume and adjustable thread counts. So, what do you use? The downloader built into your browser? An extension? Or a standalone app? Post your answer in the Comments section below. And, if you'd like to have your question included here, send it to us using this form. We'll post one question each week.
Comments
36
Subscribe to commentsTom BurleyAug 5th 2005 8:40PM
I use getright 6.0 beta3. I have been using getright for several years, first with Opera and subsequently with firefox.
hafaAug 5th 2005 10:04PM
Flashget rules, it does 98% of my downloads,
GetLeft does good job at robbing stuff too.
depend on situations, DSLite, ClubBox, Xuite,.. were also handy.
MedlirAug 6th 2005 7:29AM
Free Download Manager via FlashGot extension in Firefox.
Jason ClarkeAug 6th 2005 2:40AM
Here's a third vote for Free Download Manager using FlashGot on Firefox. Great combination.
concep86Aug 6th 2005 5:58PM
Have you ever downloaded a file... named....
something weird or cryptic... like...
eurd83.edyt.exe
Well... at the moment you download... you know exactly what it is... try remembering what that file was for a few weeks or months later....
I download a lot from the net... I use flashget...
it lets me add info about th efile... and allows me to search on that info... cool app...
MizAug 6th 2005 9:57AM
FDM - Free Download Manager, w/ Firefox and Flashgot. Great for getting all files on a page. For single downloads, I sometimes let Firefox's handle it.
A few years back, used Flashget and Getright.
EdwardAug 6th 2005 4:39PM
Being on a 15mbps line, the Firefox buit-in download manager suits me just fine. Even the dvd-sized linux distro's.
ShamblerAug 6th 2005 6:28PM
I use 3!. well mainly Getright I've been using it for a long time now but sometimes because of Firewall restrictions WellGet is a better choice when downloading FTP files over HTTP GET connection, Getright doesn't seem to handle this. Also, WellGet has better proxy settings and configuration so you can configure a proxy for each file without changing your proxy settings back and forth so this is pretty handy and it can fake a referer page for the file downloading so you can basically get around sites that block download managers. Also, when it comes to just plain fast downloading Internet Download Manager or IDM for short stands from the crowd. I've tried DAP, FDM, Download Studio, but now i'm just stuck with getright, wellget and IDM. I use Flashgot extension with Firefox so I can choose which one I want for the file I need. So simply here is what I think each one is best for:
1. Best File Organization and Management : Getright.
2. Most ways to downloading files ( proxies etc. ) : Wellget
3. Fastest File Downloader : IDM.
My main point here is: There is no ultimate download manager. Each one has its own pros and cons so it's better to use a mix than only one of them. espically when you download alot.
A final note: all tested with broadband connection.
JinFXAug 7th 2005 4:49PM
omg, BT isnt even mentioned anywhere on the page!
anyway, for htp (http), ftp, and stream, i stick with flashget, helped out by flashgot
i have tried HiDownload, and it might have been better than flashget...but seems flashget has more stability and way less version changes, so i can know wats up when friends come to me w/ their problems
also tried IS dlm, i got it under the impression it handles eMule, but since i found out it didnt i got rid of it. however, it is ok for a minimal interface for htp, ftp, and bt
BaiDu also had its own bt based network, not sth great for everyday bt but i use it for music, since u have to goto baidu to find music, y not just use their agent to dl it?
bt and eM? idk, i am on dial up and avoid those to the point i ask other people to dl stuff on those, mainly cuz i also share my stuff w/ friends and they look to me for the software
MichaelAug 7th 2005 2:34PM
wget :D
GarrettAug 7th 2005 11:52AM
Free Download Manager is the best I've come across. I've tried various others and they all have pretty similar features, but not having to buy/crack a useful utility like FDM is great. Adding in the FlashGot extension for firefox fufills all my downloading needs.
http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/
JinFXAug 7th 2005 5:03PM
hey y does the comments have to have page breaks?
Sanjay GoelAug 8th 2005 2:17AM
I used DAP 5.3 when I was using IE. Buta Firefox FlashGot extension with Free Download Manager seems like a perfect solution. Complete freeware, FDM downloads in the background without interrupting and auto exits after finishing all the downloads.
Phillip Molly MaloneAug 22nd 2005 11:16AM
Love GetRight! As I mentioned on my Blog (http://mollyzine-podcasting.blogspot.com/2005/08/my-favourite-download-manager-now.html) it recently has added a Pro version that amoung other things has Podcatching functionality in this version.
HTH
Molly
patlv23Aug 24th 2005 5:57AM
freshdownload works for me. using it less and less though with firefox and a fast connection
AntipirinaSep 2nd 2005 1:00AM
Reget Deluxe - absolutely rulez
Integrated into Opera & Firefox