speaking of free speed tests: Dipstick by Klever Group Inc.

[Susan Bugher]

Program: Dipstick
Author: Klever Group Inc.
Ware: (Donationware) (free) (open source: MIT license)
http://www.klever.net/
http://kin.klever.net/dipstick/

version 3.1 (August 6th, 2005)
http://kin.klever.net/dist/dipstick-3.1.exe
(146 KB)

http://kin.klever.net/dipstick/description

<q>
Dipstick is our award-winning freeware that allows you to quickly
evaluate mirror sites and figure out which one is the best suited for
download for you at this very moment.

The summary of dipstick features:

* Lets you evaluate the list of mirrors to find the closest one
* Can store the list into a comma separated values file for later
retrieval or further processing
* Able to parse the HTML selection to find the URLs
* Doesn't take much space on the screen
* Open source for those willing to add missing features, fix bugs and
examine code for potential flaws and fun
* You're free to torture it the way you want to as long as you preserve
original author's credentials
* It would cost you nothing unless you're willing to monetarily express
your gratitude and make a donation

Once you find yourself with a list of mirrors you will want to launch
dipstick. Dipstick will show up on the screen as a small window, where
you can drag'n'drop or copy'n'paste URLs in question (of course you can
also enter URLs or hosts manually): dipstick's dragpad

If you drop or paste the HTML selection you will be given the list of
links found, so that you can select the ones of interest.

After you provided dipstick with links it will start to evaluate links
by pinging the hosts. To prevent you from being bored the rain will go
through the dipstick's window like this: rain going through the
dipstick's window

When dipstick is done checking links it will automatically (unless you
turn it off in the options) come up with the fastest mirror, giving you
the oportunity to open the URL, copy it to clipboard or examine further
locations: dipstick comes up with the best location

To examine the list of links and results or to explore advanced
dipstick's capabilities you can bring up the main window by clicking on
the "dragpad":
</q>

Pricelessware 2002

Susan
--
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[Terry Russell]

Program: Dipstick

nice grade 4) useful if you can remember you have it ,which one it is and
where you put it

at least to indicate server response , if available and packet loss

it doesn't stop for a new list

needs a couple of pings per server or the results are strange, 5 instead of
the default 10
is much faster and much the same results

doesn't test server speed, lag doesn't make much difference to larger
downloads
protocols assemble packet streams and communicate 2 way simultaneously so
only actual errors or dropouts slow things down
.. you will know shortly anyway, if it doesn't start downloading in 30
seconds you may as
well move on
( server speed tests would be a huge overhead for dialup)

on the other hand games with small packets needing quick responses really
suffer
from lag

 

[Susan Bugher]

nice grade 4) useful if you can remember you have it ,which one it is and
where you put it

A Freeware junkie's number one problem?

Thanks for that nice review of the app.

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)