A MAC users review of Clients

[lightstone]

Updated 3/31/2001

Gnutella Mac Clients that I have tried; Limewire, FURI, MP3 Rage and Mactella.

MP3 Rage rev 3.1: is not considered a choice because it does not SHARE files!!!!!!

Mactella rev 1.0.5: Is very short on options. not a good choice. Doesn't support Alias's and Folders in shared files. Doesn't block Freeloaders. Still lacking not a strong client.

FURI rev 0.6.8: has a lot of technical trouble shooting options. Clear or not inactive Servant connections and why connection was broken. Confirmination on Quitting program if download or uploads are in progress. The biggest thing I liked was on downloads, showing what kind of a Client we are talking with, the download log, the Resume feature is a MUST have, and the adding of Candiates is just GREAT. FURI, it lets you search for other "Canidates" that have the same file name and file size, then check out the "Make Current" option. If one is running slow you could try another without losing any ground on the load! Supports Alias's and Folders in shared files. Shows file path of shared files, with number of hits in searches and number of loads attempted. Down side: Doesn't have an "Incomplete" load file. In shared files could show Name of file, Path can get very long. No Option to block Freeloaders. Doesn't show number of servants on each connection, shows how many servants it HAS BEEN connected to, not the current number; could also show files shared from each connection. Needs option to add/delete "Auto Connect Hosts" from preset connection (as is Limewire)

Limewire rev 1.3: Macintosh Edition: Confirmination on Quitting program, weither or not, download or uploads are in progress(why not only when in progress?). Does block freeloaders (optional). Does use an incomplete file for inprocess loads. Shows number of servants from each 1st level connection. Can Browse Servants shared folder. Supports Alias's and Folders in shared files. Shows file names and path of shared files. In Search results groups same name files, uses this for downloads with "Down Load Any". Down side:On downloads could show what kind of a Client we are talking with. Doesn't provide for resume of errored loads, restarts from 0 rather than using what has been loaded (IF group was same size files this could work, as with FURI). (BUG: automatically restarts from 0 if "downlaod any" is selected on 1 servant.) Could show in shared files number of hits in searches and number of loads attempted. In "Connections" tab could option clear or not inactive Servant connections, also add status for why connection was broken and total files shared from servant. As a retired Tech, I would like to see all the information that is possiable.

My conclusion: Use LIMEWIRE to share your files with the Gnutella Network, because of Freeloader blocking. Use FURI as search/downloader of Gnutella files and to see how connections work. If you are going to use just one FURI seems the best at this time.

Maybe Bearshare's coming release for MAC will combine the best of all the features, one can only hope.

Any comments/correction in fact post here or e-mail me, I wiil change this as information comes in or Revs of clients change.
WALT

[This message has been edited by lightstone (edited 03-31-2001).]