I just use my browser. I didn't even know that so many people had developed apps to allow you to download better! Do you think I should get one, or stick with firefox (about the only big files I ever download are Linux distros i'm trying out, so i'm leaning towards no). Also, do you have to launch them seperately or do they come up automatically when you click a download link?

I used to use DAP a long time ago. :\
Don't have any meaningful usage for those programs nowadays, I think. It's true that my internet tends to unexpectedly disconnect itself which has caused me some grief before with downloading, but it's only really minor grief as I tend to download small files. And BTW, the reason that download "accelerators" actually make retrieving files from the internet faster is because they tend to look for mirrors to the same file, and thus concurrently download numerous segments of the file from different servers.

Anyways, the Firefox download manager isn't that great, but it's OK. And yeah, it's pausing and resuming capabilities suck, but that's a whole lot more than you can say for Windows Live!'s (and MSN Messenger's) file-sharing capabilities. Here's a tip for everyone: if you're trying to send your friends some files through the MSN network, you're rather off setting up the FileZilla Server and sending an FTP link to your friends.

but both dap and gozilla have some adware
just try some adware remover like spysweeper

Internet explorer also works with protected ftp server.
You simply have to tell your browser that you are not using an anonymous server, and you have to provide the ftp username first, and the ftp password will be asked.
The way giving the URL providing the ftp username in order to access a non-anonymous ftp server with a browser is :
ftp:myftpusername@myftpserver
You see a popup window appearing asking for the password of the ftp user named "myftpusername".
Simply try it with your astahost account, if you already defined your ftp user and his ftp password, you can access your files both by a ftp client and with Internet Explorer !

I found Getright Getright site to be the best on the market I even bought it about 6 yrs ago and still use the latest version off my origonal $20.
I used to be on a dial up which was free in the evening and Getright allows you dial at certain times cut off at a time limit or at the end of file..turn off your pc etc etc
A nice feature is being able to do an auto search of differnt mirrors for the file and check the speeds and get chunks of the file from the fastest host.
Also you can download all files from a page say a photo gallery or set of videos with one download..it can even make a folder and rename all the files for you as it does it..

Well worth a look guys..its the best!!

Mark420

I use the DownThemAll extension for firefox, since it is small, functional and integrated into the firefox browser.
I really don't need anything extra and it does have some very nice and time saving features. I love firefox extension because they don't clutter up my hardrive. Also it seems to be much more RAM-efficient then running an entirely different fiull-featured application.

Well, from the disscussion going on above, I'd like to clear the definition of a "Download Manager" here! There's a great difference between "Download Accelerator" and "Download Manager"...

A download manager manages your downloads, categorizes them, shows the transfer rate etc. and a Download Accelerator does most the above and also speeds up downloads (Or at least claims to do so!)...

I use Fresh Download (www.freshdevices.com) for my downloads. It fullfils all my needs -

• Categorized Downloads
• Pause/Resume
• Multiple Connections
• Tranfer Rate/Graph
• Estimated and Elasped time
• Integration with Firefox

What more does one need? I got a fast enough I'net connection, so I don't need an accelrator.

The site offers it for free. Just that they take your E-mail ID and send you the link to download and the registration codes (they're free too!) and then they send updates for their products weekly. Might be Spam, but you can success fully unsubscribe!

My favourite download manager is Internet Download Manger. It increased my download speed by a lot!

I used to use a download manager called Get Right Tray.

It doesn't matter how fast your connection is, if you download big popular files like game demos, Linux installs, or videos, you can still have problems with disconnections or slow servers. GetRight's resuming and acceleration will make your downloads painless and easy--and as fast as possible.

The web link for this software is:

http://www.getright.com/

Orbit is the best...

Guess u guys never heard about it, but try it, I'm sure you'll like it.
It's extremely fast, really...And it's not heavy, has friendly interface, PERFECT browser integration, is practic.
Try it!!!