In computing, like pop music, there are "oldies but goodies." One of the older and better is "ftp" -- "file transfer protocol" -- an Internet technology that's been in use for so many years that people have begun to forget it's there.
Compared with so much other computing technology, FTP is refreshingly simple. It provides quick file transfers with minimal muss and fuss. Even the term is straightforward compared to most computer acronyms.
File Transfer Protocol is just that: a protocol (technical specification) for transferring files. It's typically quicker than Web protocols. There's no special wizardry here. In fact, the secret is the absence of wizardry. Because of the simple, non-graphical FTP mechanism, the server computer can devote more of its computing power to the downloads.
You often use FTP without knowing you are using it. FTP support is built into Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and most other standard browsers. Further, many Web sites use FTP as their method for downloading files to you. In most instances, unless you happen to look closely at the download dialog box, you never will notice that FTP is being used. And you go to FTP sites by giving your browser the sites' URLs (the syntax typically is ftp://ftp.somplace.com).
FTP remains a major method for software vendors and many other institutions, particularly universities, to distribute files over the Internet. If you are regularly dealing with such sites, you may be better off supplementing your browser's specialized FTP application suitable for Industrial Strength downloading. Generally, FTP software is shareware (that is, software that you download and try before you purchase) or freeware. There are dozens, and they are all similar in principle.
Basically they emulate the Windows 95/98 "Explorer" file manager so that the server file structure looks, and can be accessed, like any drive or directory on your own computer. The key features you want in an FTP program are the ability to resume an interrupted download (a key FTP capability that browsers rarely support), to store information about the contents of server directories so you can quickly switch back and forth among them, and to make repeated attempts to connect to limited-capacity servers. (Note: The automatic restart feature -- the technical term is "reget" -- has to be supported by both the server and the client.)
Some FTP programs have a command line interface which can be useful for often repeated tasks like updating a Web page or automating repeated downloads. However, in my estimation, for the average user this command line feature represents the kind of complexity that justifies a Windows application. Use your own discretion here.
PrimaSoft AutoFTP is a TNPC featured product. It comes in Standard and Pro versions. And there's a free -- yes, free -- version, which has advertisements at the bottom of the application window. If you can put up with the advertising, the price certainly is right.
Other choices: the two best known are Cute FTP by GlobalSCAPE, Inc. and WS-FTP Pro from Ipswitch. Another good program is Bulletproof FTP, which among other things, allows you to run multiple instances of the program (like opening a new window in a browser), so you can have more than one download going at once.
Let's hear it for the good old days.
PrimaSoft AutoFTP --
http://www.primasoft.com/ftp.htm
Cute FTP --
http://www.cuteftp.com/index.html
WS-FTP Pro --
http://www.ipswitch.com/Products/WS_FTP/index.html
Bulletproof FTP --
http://www.bpftp.com/
