Best Free Download Manager

[dre]

Not to knowledge, Does Gigaget have a scheduler? I've installed it the other day and have not seen such option. Thats why i prefer FDM

[systemcrash]

I Have Gigaget with the Flashgot extension. I would like to see the feature that when the mouse is paused over the top it tells you the current download progress. Which is what i would prefer rather then a window.

I had Orbit downloader but i had problems with the grab+ feature and didnt want another toolbar as i like my web browser minimal.
I have not noticed a big difference in download speed between the 2.

So im settles at the moment with gigaget but im not completely convinced if i want to keep it. Maybe the results of this poll may change my mind.

[vasa1]

Any more views on this topic? I want a download manager primarily for the various security updates such as those recommended here.

My main browser is Firefox and that now (3.6.2 onwards, I think) allows for restoring a broken download but it doesn't seem to have features to accelerate the downloads.

[vasa1]

Given that I'm not interested in downloading from "social sites", I also feel it will be safer to use a downloader that does not take the help of P2P sites to speed up things. I'd prefer downloading from the source or it's official mirrors.

From the Orbit Downloader site:

Orbit Downloader is based on p2p and multi-source downloading technology. More Efficient mirrors selection algorithm and faster download sources which allows you to download files up to 500% faster than before. Maximum possible download speed, up to the fastest download manager!

And according to Jojoyee's review here,

Gigaget is currently not hosted by the developer while its original Chinese version Xunlei (or Thunder) is actively developed and becomes one of the most popular download managers among Chinese users.

.
Is that still true and is it significant?

And Free Download Manager is thrice the size of Giganet but

DM Lite version requires less size and lacks some functions (BitTorrent support, video conversion and upload manager) that can be downloaded and installed as plugins later.
FDM Lite ver. 3.0 (2,1 Mb, setup)

seems attractive.

[Anupam]

There is an add-on for Firefox called DownThemAll... its very good. You can try it too.

Originally Posted by vasa1

Given that I'm not interested in downloading from "social sites", I also feel it will be safer to use a downloader that does not take the help of P2P sites to speed up things. I'd prefer downloading from the source or it's official mirrors.

I use Orbit, and I find it really good. Its more actively developed than Free Download Manager(FDM). If you don't want to make use of the P2P feature, then you can uncheck the option of Orbitnet in Orbit Downloader. Then, Orbit will download files from the source only. I personally keep Orbitnet off.

Give Orbit a try, you won't be disappointed.

Free Download Manager is good too, and I used to use it before Orbit. But, I like the looks of Orbit more than FDM. Also, Orbit is more actively developed and new version keep coming out at regular intervals. Whereas a new version of FDM has not been out in a long time.

FDM supports more browsers though. If you use Safari, or SRWare Iron as your browser, then I would advise you to go for FDM.

[vasa1]

Hi, one more major concern:

Let us take the specific case of a security program such as MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware. Today, I downloaded the latest update, about 4.4 MB directly from the program's page. After the downloading through MBAM, the updates were (automatically) integrated into the program.

How would this work with any download manager, if it is possible at all?

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by vasa1

Let us take the specific case of a security program such as MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware. Today, I downloaded the latest update, about 4.4 MB directly from the program's page. After the downloading through MBAM, the updates were (automatically) integrated into the program.

How would this work with any download manager, if it is possible at all?

If you download the update file directly using a download manager, its not possible that the update will integrate automatically into the program. Its a standalone update file, how will it automatically integrate? You will have to run the setup of update file for it to be integrated into its program, or you will have to manually perform the update by pointing to the update file, or, as specified by the program.

Updating directly from the program is another matter. The updates will of course be integrated into the program directly in that case, because that's what it is made for.

[vasa1]

Originally Posted by Anupam

If you download the update file directly using a download manager, its not possible that the update will integrate automatically into the program. Its a standalone update file, how will it automatically integrate? You will have to run the setup of update file for it to be integrated into its program, or you will have to manually perform the update by pointing to the update file, or, as specified by the program.

Updating directly from the program is another matter. The updates will of course be integrated into the program directly in that case, because that's what it is made for.

This is logical and also the impression I have. But I wanted to be sure.

But let's keep in mind that some sites (softpedia, cnet) offer updates to databases of popular antivirus programs. I wonder how that is installed. Such updates can be downloaded by a manager since the link is available. But the integration still is a mystery (unless it's simply a bunch of files that need to be present in a specific directory..). That is how I "upgraded" A squared on a second computer yesterday.

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by vasa1

But let's keep in mind that some sites (softpedia, cnet) offer updates to databases of popular antivirus programs. I wonder how that is installed. Such updates can be downloaded by a manager since the link is available. But the integration still is a mystery (unless it's simply a bunch of files that need to be present in a specific directory..). That is how I "upgraded" A squared on a second computer yesterday.

Yes, download sites do offer definitions/database updates. I have installed databases/definitions that way many times for Avast, MBAM, SAS, and Avira. In case of Avast, MBAM and SAS, the update file is a setup file. You simply run the exe and the definitions/database gets updated, and integrated into the software. In case of Avira, you have to point it to the update file, and it integrates it into its database. Now, I don't know what goes on behind the scene, and I don't think I need to.

[vasa1]

Originally Posted by Anupam

Yes, download sites do offer definitions/database updates. I have installed databases/definitions that way many times for Avast, MBAM, SAS, and Avira. In case of Avast, MBAM and SAS, the update file is a setup file. You simply run the exe and the definitions/database gets updated, and integrated into the software. In case of Avira, you have to point it to the update file, and it integrates it into its database. ...

So then, whenever possible, it may be preferable for those with dodgy internet connections to take this route than to update from the program's site (unless the site has a resume download provision).

It also means that the update can be done for 1 PC and then moved to another by removable media rather than doing multiple downloads, if there's an issue of limited broadband.

Originally Posted by Anupam

Now, I don't know what goes on behind the scene, and I don't think I need to.

True.