Downloading

When it comes to downloading media files such as movies and TV shows, there are two tried and tested protocols (methods) of doing so; BitTorrent and Usenet. These two protocols are completely different in the way they work and the programs that you will need to use are also very different. This section will clearly explain how each of these protocols works, what the pros and cons are, how to set up the appropriate software to download your first file and any other information that may help you become an expert in downloading media.

BitTorrent

BitTorrent has been around since 2001 and is a very unique P2P (peer to peer) file sharing protocol. BitTorrent is a method of downloading, not a program (although there is a program called ‘BitTorrent’). The method in which files are obtained through BitTorrent is what makes it so useful, but is also why it is not the best option in some situations. In order to utilize BitTorrent you will need to use a program, called a ‘Client’, to access the network, we will go into further detail about BitTorrent in this section.

Usenet

Usenet doesn’t share any similarities with BitTorrent, other than the fact that you can most likely get the same files that are available through BitTorrent networks. Using Usenet is very much like downloading anything else on the internet, you click it and it starts downloading. All in all, it is very simple to use. This simplicity does come at a price though. BitTorrent may be free, but Usenet will cost you an additional monthly fee on top of what you are already paying for internet. Usenet is, however, the wave of the future, and it is worth the cost. We will go into further detail about Usenet in this section.