Downloading Files Efficiently Using File Hosting Websites

Throughout the years, technology has grown, and computers are now able to transfer files much faster than before. In fact, downloading and uploading takes up a huge chunk of all internet traffic. It's one of the reasons why programmers have been developing new programs to transfer files. The most commonly transferred files are movies, music, and software. Because many media are very large, it often takes many hours, if not days or weeks, before a download can be completed. Thus, it is extremely important to find ways to download faster and more efficiently.

One such way is using file hosting websites. Some examples are: rapidshare, megaupload, megashares, gigasize, adrive, and others. File hosting websites generally allow users to upload files of almost any size, that would then be placed on the site's server and be available for download to anyone who has the download link. Thus, instead of downloading from the person who uploaded the file, as in peer to peer sharing, people are able to download from the file hosting website's server, which is in fact just like downloading from the internet. The file can be transferred at any time, and does not rely on whether the uploader or downloader is active and on the computer or not.

Advantages:

• The speed of the download goes almost as fast as the ISP (internet service provider) allows. Thus, if the internet connection is 1 megabyte per second, the download will go at 1 megabyte per second. This does not depend on the file downloaded, so all file download speeds are the same. In peer to peer sharing, however, the downloader can only download as fast as the uploader's ISP allows, which is a major disadvantages.

• The quality of the files are very good. Because people actually take the time to upload their file, it is less likely that the file would be junk, and would not waste a person's time. Also, many files are torrents that have been uploaded.

• The links can be found anywhere online, such as in forums, or at special places like "http://www.dl4all.com/". These places list the links so that it is easier to find what one wants. Also, these sites also encrypt the files or folders in a zip archive, so that only users who have the password will be able to download. These passwords are also posted, and are a big advantage so that the files won't be deleted.

Disadvantages:

• Because many files are illegal, these file hosting websites often scan and delete illegal uploads. Thus, some downloads will not last long. However, this is countered by the encryption described above.

• This method is, unfortunately, not free. Free and premium downloading is very different. Free downloaders have to wait in between downloads. Premium downloaders do not. Free downloaders can not download multiple files simulataneously. Premium downloaders can. Free downloaders can not upload or download specific file sizes. Premium downloaders can. Free downloaders can not resume paused downloads. Premium users can. There are many more limitations that make downloading frustrating for free users. This is all an effort to make people buy their accounts.

• Of course, this method is not always safe. There is always a possibility that these sites record IP addresses in their log and can track down illegal downloaders. Also, some files might contain viruses or trojans, though this has not yet been known to happen.

So there are the facts. The advantages, however, far outweigh the disadvantages. It is highly recommended to download using file hosting websites than peer to peer, as time is much more valuable than money.