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Transfer files faster

If you want to download files faster from the Internet, it might be time to switch to a program called a dedicated FTP (file transfer protocol) client. But first ... a word about protocols.

Protocols are rules computers use to communicate. For example, "HTTP" at the beginning of Web addresses refers to the hypertext transfer protocol. HTTP works great for downloading Web pages, but there's a better protocol for downloading programs or images—FTP.

A lot of browsers switch to FTP when you download from an FTP-based site. But browsers don't transfer files as efficiently as a dedicated FTP program, called a client. Ipswitch's latest release of its FTP client WS_FTP Pro 6.5 ($39.95) for Windows includes new features to tie it into your browser for your downloads. WS_FTP has been a tool of choice for Web site builders (you can upload Web pages via FTP), and this version improves on the tools they use, especially with much needed changes to make it easier to operate. If you download big files often or upload files to a Web host, WS_FTP Pro is worth the price.

—Eric Griffith

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Ipswitch

www.ipswitch.com