for the first time i did not want to use dc++ and to be honest when i tried i hated it. it is a little more complicated than soulseek, kazaa, i had to get used to it. ive used it for about a year now and i found other versions of it, kinda like scripts for mIRC, with more things included in it. the only thing in DC++ is that it doesnt support multiple source downloading, in other words ure downloading the same file from more person at a time. in DC++ you can have more sources, but its not able to use more than one at a time (i dont know if its still like that in the newer version or not, i havent used the original version since the begining and trying period) therefore, ure download speed is going to depend on the one source ure downloading from which is not a very good thing for broadband users. im currently using nextDC++, it is a hungarian version, i dont know if there is and english version or not, but u can find different DC++ clients that support multiple source downloading. the basic idea of the system is that there are servers called hubs, just like the irc network. you get on a hub and u find ureself in a big chatroom, with the nicklist on the right(very similar to an irc chatroom). on the bottom u have ure little tabs for ure windows uve opened. ure main windows mostly: public hubs,favorite hubs,download queue, the main hub windows(the chatroom) and ure searching windows. hubs have different "minimum sharing size" limits, in other words there is a given X Gb u have to share in order to get into a hub, and each hub has its own rules and stuff. u can connect to more hub at a time, but they also limit the "number of upload slots/hubs" ratio. if ure connected to about 5-6 hubs with about 300Tb shared files on each ure good :) now u can start searching... u can choose what ure looking for, video,audio,cd image, etc.. and u search. it will give u the found stuff on all of the hubs ure connected to(it can be a pretty long list) now u found what u need, start to download. try to choose the file that has the most sources, try to concentrate on the file size, not the filename because if youre using a client with multiple source downloading support, it will not download anything that is less or more than ure chosen file. if u dont have a client that supports multi source dl, u may want to choose the kind of file described above, therefore u have more options if one of ure sources go offline. i usually have a download limit at about 400k/s because i dont want my connection to be 100% busy and save my bandwidth for my other apps, but when u have about 60 sources to download from in the same time(with an average upload of 30k/s which is not that much), it can add up to a pretty nice downloading speed on your side let me tell you:) i think this program(with the extra options the clients have) is currently the best for downloading pretty much anything. It can be really really fast, u can use your bandwith as much as u like, u can continue downloading anytime u want, and if once u get used to it, u wont use any other programs. now i talked so much good and pretty about it, there is the other side. i have recieved 2 emails(included in the thread about the "FBI to join in fight against P2P piracy" that i just posted) already from my isp(cogeco cable) that included a forwarded mail from columbia records inc, informing them that i downloaded their copyrighted movies through dc++ hubs. how is it possible? i dont really know, but their date on my downloading was about a week after i downloaded it. They included my ip, the hubs ip, my login name, time, date, exact filename...(u can check it in the mail) supposebly there are privacy bots watching the activities on hubs... i already talked to some of the operators and they knew about it already and told me that actions have already been taken place, but what about the rest of the public and private hubs? im a little concerned and not to mention my parents when they read the email... i dont know how serious this is probably not that serious(lets hope), but its better to be scared than opening the door to some ppl who want take my comp away or something. ive only recieved mails from columbia pictures inc, none from any other companies and i assume that only theyre wasting money on stupid things like this....anyways im a little off the subject, but i think this might be useful for u guys.
Overall:
I highly recomend the prog to everyone, if not for a longer period, at least give a try, personally the original DC++ was not on the top of the list, but the other clients with lots of useful features are really good. Considering the piracy problem, if ure paranoic, dont use it because it can really scare you(or your parents):)
Thanks if ure still reading, i hope i could help and give some guidelines, if u have comments or wanna share ure thoughts with me i would appreciate it: frakk@hotmail.com