GigaTribe

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on February 17, 2010

Most of us are familiar with peer-to-peer file-sharing programs like Limewire, which allow users to connect directly with other people on the network to share music, movies, and other types of media. This type of file sharing can be fun and useful, but it also has its drawbacks; you never know if you're downloading what you actually think you are, and sometimes what you end up with is downright malicious. GigaTribe takes the concept of P2P file sharing and makes it more intimate; this ingenious program allows you to set up a private P2P network with your friends.

If you pressed us to come up with something about GigaTribe that we didn't like, we're not sure that we could. The program's interface is wonderful, both attractive and intuitive. In no time at all both we and a friend had installed it, created a network, and started sharing files. GigaTribe is more than just a file-sharing application, however; users can also create profiles, post blog entries, and chat with one another, all from within the interface. We especially liked the Transfers tab, which allows users to see at a glance exactly what they've uploaded or downloaded and to whom each file has been shared with. We do wish that the program had a comprehensive Help file: there's an online FAQ, but it's not very detailed. Overall, we think GigaTribe is a great program, and that it could be useful for both groups of friends who want to share files for fun as well as coworkers who need an efficient way to transfer documents.

GigaTribe is free. It installs and uninstalls without issues. We highly recommend this program to all users.