Torrent Software

[roo_ster]

Howdy:

I finally have a desktop running at the house and am thinking about installing torrent software.  Thing is, I know little about it and would like to avoid pitfalls.

So, I have questions.

1. Which torrent software for WinXP and Linux?
The installed-on-hardware OS is WinXP, but I also run damnsmalllinux (2.4.x kernel) virtual machine in qemu/kqemu.  If I have to, I'll run it in the VM for an aded layer of security.  I hear some torrent software is terribly invasive and mal-ware(ish).

2. Pitfalls for newbies.  What are they & how do I avoid lifting my skirt to the net?

[Sergeant Bob]

I know a few people who have used Bittorrent (me included) and have not had any problems with it. Not sure if it works with Linux though. It's pretty easy to use and has an intuitive user interface. You can also set it change the port used to download, which is handy, as some ISP's will throttle torrent downloads to unusable speeds.

[taurusowner]

I've used Azureus, uTorrent, and BitTorrent.  So far BitTorrent has been the most stable.  And for newbies, Azureus is way too complicated.  I've got BitTorrent running right now.

[Manedwolf]

Acquisition on OSX combines all sorts of filesharing and torrent software into one elegant, graphical client. I don't think they make it for Windows, though.

[41magsnub]

Bittorrent fan here, it just works and the config is intuitive. 

[BryanP]

I prefer Azureus myself.

[GigaBuist]

I've been using Transmission on OS X and now Linux for a while. It's very no frills and just plain works.

I'm not sure why I stopped using the official client on OS X.

[MrRezister]

Bittorrent has been good to me.
uTorrent is pretty much the same.

[nico]

I've used Azureus, uTorrent, and BitTorrent.  So far BitTorrent has been the most stable.  And for newbies, Azureus is way too complicated.  I've got BitTorrent running right now.

I use Azureus and haven't had any problems.  What's complicated about it?  (not trying to be a smartass, just thinking I might be missing some useful features)

[InfidelSerf]

I've been quite fond of utorrent.
I highly recommend you install PG2 (Peer Guardian 2) from phoenix labs formerly methlabs (I state that so you are not thrown off when you install and it's start up banner says methlabs)

http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

[jrfoxx]

haven't tried Btorrent, Agree Azareus was a pain to get working with my secure router, norton, etc, and currently use Utorrent. Works great, and is easy to use and setup for me.

[The Annoyed Man]

I've been quite fond of utorrent.
I highly recommend you install PG2 (Peer Guardian 2) from phoenix labs formerly methlabs (I state that so you are not thrown off when you install and it's start up banner says methlabs)

http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

Shocked that they changed the company name. Duh.

[Firethorn]

haven't tried Btorrent, Agree Azareus was a pain to get working with my secure router, norton, etc, and currently use Utorrent. Works great, and is easy to use and setup for me.

I tried Bittorrent, couldn't get any speed compared to Azareus, so I switched back.  Had relatively no pain setting up my router.  Just give Azareus a port number to work with, and direct TCP and UDP from that port to the proper computer.

[Mabs2]

<3 uTorrent.

[MrRezister]

2. Pitfalls for newbies.  What are they & how do I avoid lifting my skirt to the net?

If you're getting programs from torrent sites, check the number of seeds, and if available, comments from other users.  There ARE things to avoid out there.

[zahc]

I've always used Ktorrent, because I used to use KDE. I used transmission once, though. Really, I don't know what the difference is, I usually double click on torrents and they appear in my home directory later.

[Sergeant Bob]

I've always used Ktorrent, because I used to use KDE. I used transmission once, though. Really, I don't know what the difference is, I usually double click on torrents and they appear in my home directory later.

Magic!