Torrenting on a Mac? Here's the Best setup! (or so I think so)

**zoryx** · October 12th, 2007, 10:21 PM

This is mainly for people new to torrenting that have a Mac.
I've tried a lot of programs to download/play/encode files on the mac, but I think I found the best (and free) setup.

Torrent Client: Bits on Wheels
I've tried a lot of clients, like Transmission, Tomato Torrent, Bits on Wheels, regular old Bittorrent, and Azureus (the new one). They all were okay, had their pros and cons, yet I felt that Bits on Wheels was the easiest to use, the easiest to configure and customize, yet not too complicated.
Of course when uTorrent comes out for Mac it could change all that.

MKV Players: Quicktime w/ Perian codec and VLC in second
Its hard to find a player for Mac for MKV files. Everyone suggests VLC, yet the interface is missing something (for me) that quicktime has. Thats when the Perian codec for quicktime comes in. Its easy to install and and starts working next time you run Quicktime.
Don't go for that MKV codec that you have to put in the Application Support folder, it sucks.

Encoding: VisualHub and Quicktime in second
With the Perian codec with Quicktime, after you open up the MKV file, you can export it to a few different other file formats. Yet it takes days, literally, for just one movie at 720P.
Thats where VisualHub comes in. It's easy to configure, with built in settings as well. You just drag in the MKV file, set what you want, and in about 5 hrs, you're done. It's better, but the downside is it's not free. But I mean, there is places that you can find it...

EXTRA: InsomniaX
For those with laptops, this is completely necessary for downloading and uploading 24/7. When you close your laptop lid, everything goes to sleep, and there's no built in way to get around it.
InsomniaX is a free program that disables it, letting you shut your lid, and making it look like the laptop is sleeping, even though its not. If you're not running any CPU heavy applications, the fan even shuts down, making it completely silent.

What do you think? Has anybody tried out anything else?

**Unstable1** · October 13th, 2007, 12:13 AM

azureus is the best client for a mac. ive been using it for years.

importantly, it support rc4 encryption as well as all the other features you could possibly need.

azureus doesnt use much in the way of resources either when its hidden/minimised, most of the resources are only used when the interface is in use.

just because you think bits on wheels is easy to configure doesnt mean its the best client. in fact, its easy to configure because it lacks important features.

furthermore, version 2.5.0.4 azureus is an allowed client ALL private sites.

vlc is the best player for video files. it play virtually everything.

flip4mac plugin in quicktime is the best way of viewing wmv files.

i dont know anything about mkv files so cant offer an opinion on those.

ive tried bits on wheels, transmission and the offficial bit torrent client and they all lack important features. my advice is spend the time to learn azureus. its more complex for a reason. its powerful. its feature-rich. and it does everything you could possibly want. learning how to use azureus is worth the effort, its by far the best client on mac os x.