A MAC users review of Clients
 

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).]

Thanks for that great overview. I'm new to Gnutella and, as a fellow Mac user, your post has helped be choose a client.

UPDATER 3/30/2001

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

> My conclusion: Use LIMEWIRE as sharing Gnutella, because of Freeloader blocking.

I must disagree with one of your conclusions. You say that limewire is good for sharing, but I have found that it doesn't resume uploads, and that is very anoying. Several times, I have downloaded from a limewire host and someimes something happens that will terminate the transver.. Now, here is the problem.. The transfer won't resume, but rather start from 0. A GOOD server should, no, HAS TO be able to resume a transfer and limewire does not do this.

NOOC:

I mean use Limewire when you have flles to share and use FURI when you want to get files from other Hosts. The Client that is requesting the Download is in control of the Download. (FURI does resume at the point it was stoped , Limewire does not do this, currently})

That is exactly what i mean. When downloaning form a host that uses limewire to serve. I have never had a file resume. I'm not talking about my side, but the server side using limewire to share.

Well running Limewire I have seen files fail at about 20% and restart to the same ISP at 20%.
THE SERVANT SHARING JUST DOWNLOADS WHAT IT TOLD TO BY THE SERVANT THAT IS REQESTING THE DOWNLOAD.