Originally Posted by
Colamisu
It'll only affect your download speed if you're downloading from a host that limits download speed per file but allows multiple connections. Ie. your ISP's bandwidth limit allows you to download 800 kByte/s, but the host you're connecting to is limited to 300 kByte/s per connection. So Flashget opens three connections to the host, with the first and second downloading at 300 kByte/s, and the third downloading at 200 kByte/s, thus allowing you to fully use your connection. The problem is that most file hosting websites won't allow multiple simultaneous connections. And it only applies when that host is also limiting you to some fraction of your full bandwidth.
Personally, I've only used Flashget for queueing downloads from the main site here and for reliability, since Flashget splits the file into parts and verifies each part as it comes in. The former is helpful when you're connecting to a host that limits simultaneous downloads (ie. our main site) and the latter when your connection tends to drop or corrupt packets (ie. wireless, chewed cords, etc.). It was very effective at what I was using it for, but not particularly useful otherwise imo.