Currently, I am using my boarding school's ISP on my new laptop. I am able to access all of my favorite sites, my email, and even use instant messenger applications like AIM or Windows Live and such. The only thing blocked by the school's ISP is Limewire, which due to the conditions won't establish a connection beyond one or no bars at all, while claiming that there is an active firewall blocking its access (a firewall which clearly isn't mine).

It's a little disappointing because I really wanted to have some of my favorite music on my laptop for comfort and personal usage while boarding. Unfortunately, I didn't plan for this before I left. I have Limewire insalled on my home desktop, abroad from here, thus my music is there too but since I don't have an ipod or MP3 player of any sort, I couldn't take any of the tunes with me.

The only way, of course, to access Limewire is to contact an administrator with a really, really good reason for temporary access and that's something I just won't do.

I was directed, however, to torrents. Supposedly, using torrents shouldn't be a problem at all and due to encryption, it can pass as any other website on a secured ISP such as those found in schools or work. The Bittorrent client that I was directed to, additionally, is Utorrent. I also know that Azureus is quite popular as well. I don't know if this is all true though. In fact, I have no experience with torrents whatsoever. I do know that it is very different from Limewire and perhaps a bit more complex for someone who has only experience with Limewire as a P2P program of choice.

But since it is likely I won't be going up to see my family any time soon, in which case I could simply connect to the home ISP, I'd just like to know if a Bittorrent client such as Utorrent, for instance, would be a good alternative to Limewire?

Moreover, while on the subject, with the little knowledge I have of torrent programs, I've read that it's best to run these applications alongside software which protects your privacy, such as the very popular and effective PeerGuardian. PeerGuardian is not a choice of such a piece of software for me since my laptop runs on Vista and there is yet to be a version of the software compatible with Vista. I don't know of any other software similar to PeerGuardian though. Is it really necessary while running a Bittorrent client or any P2P program, for that matter? If so, any recommendations for Vista?

Feedback is very much appreciated!