Editors' ReviewDownload.com staffMarch 18, 2006Speedy and reliable, Star Downloader Free has all the essentials for a download app: scheduling, browser integration, sorting by extension, and the ability to resume interrupted downloads. The interface is attractive and very easy to use. To begin downloading, you merely click a link in your browser. The program supports Internet Explorer and Firefox natively. If you use another browser, you can copy a link to the Clipboard or drag it onto a tiny basket window. There are some problems, though. Star Downloader Free can't find mirror sites, like the pay version can, nor can it trigger system actions (shutdown, for instance) after a download finishes. It has trouble processing certain URLs, especially those with special characters. On installation, the program prompts you to set up an Internet Explorer toolbar for blocking pop-ups and searching the Web. But while this isn't the slickest or most full-featured download manager out there, it's hard to beat for the price, and we think it will satisfy most users.