Leech for Windows

Leech provides users with a valuable tool for searching Web sites while a computer is offline. It copies Web content directly to your hard drive so you can surf the offline content as if it was a live Internet feed. Leech is certainly a great idea, but it might intimidate less experienced users. It begins simply, but each subsequent step requires a little more effort from the user.

This program gets off to a great start with a very simple interface. A bracket along the left-hand side keeps track of all the Web sites users have downloaded; basic set of command icons dominates the top; and the bulk of the screen is taken up by the Web site being viewed. Downloading content is fairly simple, but new users might want to go with the default settings. The program allows you as much flexibility as you want, with the option to cycle through a series of tabs to set the Web site's filter levels, space used, and frequency which the page is updated on your hard drive. From there, viewing the page is slightly convoluted, but not impossible to figure out.

Overall, this 30-day trial functions as promised and provides a fantastic level of customization for those interested. While not entirely intuitive, Leech's design shouldn't be too difficult for intermediate users and above to learn with a little trial and error.