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Question

cnet downloader

Aug 4, 2011 3:45AM PDT

Why should i download with cnet downloader?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Do you need to?
Aug 4, 2011 3:48AM PDT

If not, then don't.

By the way, I am not sure what "CNET Downloader" is, but if you mean CNET's Download.com, then the choice is still yours. It is a great resource for software and reviews, but you don't have to use it at all.

Mark

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Cnet Downloader
Aug 4, 2011 4:47AM PDT

I said CNET DOWNLOADER not CNET's Download.com while downloading games clicked on Download Now and Cnet downloader starts downloading.

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I will have to pass.
Aug 4, 2011 5:00AM PDT

Sorry i will have to pass. I don't see what you are seeing.

This is what i see when i download files from CNET's Download.com;
http://imageshack.us/f/30/downloaddotcomv.jpg/ (click to enlarge).

I see nothing that says, CNET Downloader, but if you do then all I can suggest is that this means the Download.com "Download Server" is preparing to send the file data to your machine.

That's probably not a sufficient reply for you so I will leave this for others.

Mark

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No need to get snappy ...
Aug 4, 2011 12:01PM PDT

When people respond to your very limited information post.

You have clarified it a tiny bit now but neglected to mention the name of the game. If it was a java game or a flash game then many are not designed for download and require a third party downloader such as what is necessary for CNET videos -
http://www.getflv.net/cnet-downloader/index.htm

If you want to GET SPECIFIC and provide specific URL of the page that contains the link you clicked on then possibly, depending on ATTITUDE DISPLAYED we can offer a better response.

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Cnet Downloader
Aug 4, 2011 8:26PM PDT

Games:
Cross Fire,Operation7,Counter-Srtike:Source CS Beirut,Halo:CombatEvolved Custom Edition,

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I asked ...
Aug 5, 2011 10:31AM PDT

"If you want to GET SPECIFIC and provide specific URL of the page that
contains the link you clicked on then possibly, depending on ATTITUDE
DISPLAYED we can offer a better response."

You answered: "Games:Cross Fire,Operation7,Counter-Srtike:Source CS Beirut,Halo:CombatEvolved Custom Edition,"

I don't see a URL. WHERE are you downloading the games from? The CNET downloader for FLC movies i linked you to was at http://www.getflv.net/cnet-downloader/index.htm which isn't a CNET site but provides the cnet downloader that can be used at various sites.

YOU have to help us help you and guessing games are no help. Provide a URL to the page you clicked the link to initiate one of the game downloads so we can see what is going on if you actually want our assistance and a reliable answer. We want to help but you aren't paying for the help so quit with the attitude when a response doesn't suit you.

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cnet downloader
Aug 5, 2011 3:47PM PDT

Thanks,let me sort out this through other forums.

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Be sure to provide proper links
Aug 5, 2011 11:14PM PDT

and good luck.

Mark

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Sorry to hijack this old thread, but..
Aug 16, 2011 11:44PM PDT

..just to clarify this a bit, by "cnet downloader", the original poster was referring to a fairly new thing which some of you may or may not have experienced by now, depending on how much you use cnet to fit your needs of downloading.
This downloader (or "installer" as cnet rather calls it) was introduced at the end of July to present a rather unclear purpose - they say that it's meant to increase security in some way, but at the same time, more cautious people (like myself), who already know their ways around the Internet and have some technical experience, are unlikely to consider this an increase in security (or comfort for that matter) and may even consider it a security risk (details below).
Some people are OK with this black box behaviour (and impersonalization in a way) - but others are not.

Googling today brought up a bunch of pages referring to this topic,
most prominently a multitude of this one as an introductory post by cnet itself (+comments):
http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-20084435-12/cnet-installer-powers-secure-downloads-from-cnet-download.com/
then a few like -this- one, which is a bit more discerning already (+comments):
http://www.ghacks.net/2011/08/17/the-cnet-download-com-installer/
next to a few others, mostly rather not positive or describing concerns or specific problems with it.
Last but not least, here are two examples of cnet pages, that include the cnet installer:
http://download.cnet.com/Auslogics-Disk-Defrag/3000-2094_4-10567503.html?part=dl-6267754&subj=dl&tag=button
http://download.cnet.com/Circle-Dock-32bit/3000-2344_4-10915490.html?tag=mncol;1
(I'm not affiliated with any of those pages or programs, so don't blame me.)

Following the prominent "Download Now" button on those last two pages downloads the cnet installer for those specific programs (aka "the new secure way"), while clicking the "Direct Download Link" just below that button directly downloads the programs (aka "the way the Download Now button behaved before this" aka "what i really expected").
So, downloading the installer is one more download needed than we were used to. Going through the installer to install the program includes some obscure offer to install some bar or add-on (may vary between different downloads) and it creates some files in the %appdata% league and a shortcut on the desktop without asking. Just saying, that's how it is.
Now, you *need* to login to cnet to be able to click the "Direct Download Link" and, from what I have heard, not everyone, who just wanted to download something, would be willing to create an account first - so they kind of "force" people to use the installer, create an account or buzz off. That's not being transparent and rather unacceptable IMO. (Yes, I have a cnet account and I don't feel bad about it.)
Since there are software developers who redirect to cnet for their programs to get downloaded, some of them might experience a decrease in downloads and thus also in popularity of their programs - depending on what sort of people visit their page (or use their programs).
From my perspective, people who like the concept of applets, widgets, 1-click auctions and sharing social networking accounts with other websites (like cnet) are more likely to be OK with just another black box thing like the cnet installer. One of the things I expect from a piece of software (and everything else too really) is to keep a certain level of transparency and traceability (yes, controllability too), so that I feel comfortable enough to use it. I don't feel comfortable with downloaders/installers containing ad-ware (site-specific or otherwise).
Directly downloading from other sites (like MG etc) doesn't automatically mean it's more (or less) likely to contain malicious things. (Use some common sense.) Literally every feature a site provides could be attributed positively -or- negatively.

The original question as to Why use the cnet installer remains unanswered. It's a personal choice of trust (or distrust or even other aspects) and whether certain behaviour fits along one's guidelines or not.
I have yet to see an actual security-related benefit in using the cnet installer over a direct download and I also like keeping the actual program's installer for later use, thus I will always prefer a direct download.

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Do this to find developers site
Aug 17, 2011 1:05AM PDT

Under Quick specs you will see a link for See Full Specifications. Click it and when the next page opens you will see a link to the publishers web site. You can click on it and find the program most of the time. If they do not have a link to download it and refer you back to Download.com, click on the contact us link and let them know that CNET and Download.com is adding an unwanted program to their program and because of that you will not be using their program.

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No problem
Aug 17, 2011 5:08AM PDT