Best Free Internet Accelerator
Unlike most other accelerators which provide caching on your own PC, Google Web Accelerator (GWA) uses caching on Google's own dedicated web servers to accelerate browsing.
It also uses a number of other techniques to speed things up, including compression of html pages and the use of pre-fetching links. GWA automatically installs into Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, and can be manually configured to work with other browsers.
To protect user privacy, the accelerator does not function while you are connected to secure sites, such as internet banking. Does it work? You bet! Most users, myself included, report improvements of 10-40% in browsing speeds.
There are, however, some caveats:
- It's only available for Windows XP, Windows 2000 SP3+, and Vista.
- The product is optimized for broadband use, so modem users may experience little or no gain.
- The system currently works best within the USA and Europe, and users located in other areas will only see a small benefit.
- There are some potential privacy issues involved, so all users should closely read what Google has documented on the subject. Personally, I don't have a problem with the privacy issues, but your mileage may vary.
Those reservations aside, this is a terrific product. It provides, at no cost, most of the benefits of expensive commercial web acceleration services like Propel. Download it and see if it speeds up your browsing; if it doesn't, it's perfectly easy to uninstall.
VISTA note: Some Vista users have reported problems with this program (ie. that it simply doesn't work, or that it blocks access). The root causes remain very unclear. It may be a "64-bit problem", or an "SP1 problem", or it may affect only those PCs which are connected to external or internal "private" networks. Because I'm not aware of any uninstallation difficulty, my advice remains the same: you have nothing to loose by trying it.
Product Specifications:
Google Web Accelerator
Website: http://webaccelerator.google.com/
Download page: http://webaccelerator.google.com/index.html/
Alternative download link: http://webaccelerator.google.com/dc.html
Author: Google Lab.
Current version: Unknown
Version date: Unknown
License: Freeware
Download file size: 1.66 MB
Operating systems supported: XP, 2000 SP3+, Vista
Additional software required: IE 5.5+, or Firefox 1.0+
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: Unknown
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Emiel Gelderland. Registered site visitors can contact Emiel by clicking here
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Maxton has a web accelerator too, why to use google?
Gidday,
Are there any alternatives to Google that work in Australia?
Cheers,
Paul.
doesn't work with firefox 3 yet.
try traffic compressor too .
It's because the download page is wrong.
Use this link :
http://webaccelerator.google.com/dc.html
Not sure about this, maybe it depends on where you live?
Anyway, have added your alternative, and thanks.
Works nicely but take a look at your CPU
Mine reacts at a very annoying way. The mouse curser keeps changing to the "loading curser". The program raises my CPU with approx. 4% every 5 sec.
I use Vista home edition, but I think to remember the same problem on my XP computer when installing the program at it a couple of years ago.
Btw. sorry for my bad english.. I'm danish ;P
Thanks for your input.
You'll notice that there is a note in the review about problems with Vista. Don't be concerned about your English. Like most Danes, I'm sure you speak it almost perfectly. You should hear what we Brits do to foreign languages!
Try the first link - it works fine:
http://webaccelerator.google.com/
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