Kazaa 2.0

CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 180 reviews
• See all user reviews

Product summary

CNET editors' review

• Reviewed by: Rebecca Viksnins
• Reviewed on: 09/24/2002
• Updated on:10/24/2005

Sharman Networks just threw another coal onto the file-swapping fire. Despite legal wrangling, the company released a leaner version of its superpopular music-sharing application. The latest Kazaa allows you to download groups of songs as a single item, search the Web from within the program, and includes a new rating feature that keeps you from downloading corrupt files--a move that counters efforts by record companies and movie studios to dilute networks with subpar records. Plus, Kazaa offers customizable skins (we couldn't wait to get rid of its default neon-green interface) and integrated antivirus protection. Even though you'll have to contend with the ick-ware that plagued earlier versions, you'll still definitely be able to swap to your heart's content.Sharman Networks just threw another coal onto the file-swapping fire. Despite legal wrangling, the company released a leaner version of its superpopular music-sharing application. The new Kazaa allows you to download groups of songs as a single item, search the Web from within the program, and includes a new rating feature that keeps you from downloading corrupt files--a move that counters efforts by record companies and movie studios to dilute networks with subpar records. Plus, Kazaa offers customizable skins (we couldn't wait to get rid of its default neon-green interface) and integrated antivirus protection. Even though you'll have to contend with the ick-ware that plagued earlier versions, you'll still definitely be able to swap to your heart's content.

Watch the install
Downloading Kazaa is simple, but just as you should be cautious when you grab a rare bootleg from a user named Jack the Knife, don't speed through the installation wizard, or you could wind up with trouble. The install wizard lists an optional piece of software called SaveNow that doesn't have anything to do with Kazaa, so if you don't want to mess with a third party, opt out now.

Kazaa also installs Cydoor, a program that delivers targeted ads, which unfortunately, you'll have to live with. Take comfort in the fact that Kazaa isn't the only file-sharing program that drops these types of annoying programs onto your machine. During installation, you can also customize Kazaa's filters (select the Family Filter if yours is a G-rated household) and choose whether you want additional icons.

Impressive search
Once you get past the gaudy installation screens, you're welcomed by an easy-to-navigate Windows XP-like interface. Just like the--er--kazoo, Kazaa is a truly democratic instrument: anyone can play it. Plug in an artist or a software title in the left-hand search window, and you're on your way.

Kazaa's search function will please both hard-nosed reference librarians and greedy file-sharers alike. You can hunt for music, video, software, images, or documents while keeping your search as broad or detailed as you'd like. For example, if you're looking for audio, you can expand or limit your search based on title, artist, album, category, language, year, quality, and size. Come across a particularly bad cut of a Britney Spears video? The Kazaa rating system lets you collaboratively filter the wheat from the chaff so that others don't make the same mistake you did. Of course, just like filtering-software manufacturers, which rely in part on consumers' reports to keep its database of offensive content up-to-date, the usefulness of this feature depends on the efforts of its users, which have improved steadily over time. Continue reading

User reviews

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 180 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 180 user reviewsSee all 180 user reviews

• 0.5 stars

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

  "Hidden P2P program that steals bandwith, and more, that is a secret until now.."

  by sendemail2mehere on October 10, 2005

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• 5.0 stars

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

  "THE BEST (so far)"

  on December 10, 2002

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• 0.5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  "DON'T BUY IT!!!!"

  by RGibbs on March 14, 2005

  read more

• See all 180 user reviews Write review

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