A few people here are probably stuck with Bigpond and might also enjoy using the net usage item in Firefox to keep track of their download quota. Well I'm getting a little bored with Firefox and its stupidly long load times and the one plugin I would miss the most would have to be the net usage item. Fear not fellow Bigpond users for I have discovered a Vista side bar gadget (I think it works on Windows 7 too but I can't personally confirm that). Clicky

The gadget provides information about the BigPond Usage Meter. It is able to show:

* Current Usage
* Current Usage in Percent
* Graphical Coloured Bar (Red/Green/Orange) Depending on Current Usage
* Billing Period Dates
* Downloaded Usage
* Uploaded Usage
* Free Usage
* Shaping Status
* Usage Delay
* Usage Per Day to reach Allowance (Also shown as a Black Arrow above the Graphical Bar)
* Predictions of Surplus and Deficit Usage for End of Billing Period
* Username (for multiple accounts)

The usual disclaimers probably apply about putting your username + password into random applications but how many of us were a little suspect of the net usage item when it first appeared but now use it regularly? Unfortunately I think this probably only works with Bigpond but you other people with your better ISP's and bigger download limits probably won't need to keep constant track of your usage anyway.

Windows Live Gallery entry
Whirlpool thread

Ah the ol' usage meter. Where would ISPs be without their secretly flawed measuring device. Where 1 meg doesnt actually equal 1 meg.

I used to be with BigPond and complained to everyone i knew how bad they are.
Then i joined Optus and REALLY found out what poor service is.
Telstra Im sorry, i know i cheated on you but hopefully one day You'll take me back.

Yep, its a good tool. I've been using that one for a couple of years now. The guy who writes it has been very helpful whenever a bug has been identified.

I've got one of these for my TPG account. It's so handy being able to just look to my other monitor and see my usage.

Yeah, theres one for internode too, quite handy

Is it any more useful than iternodes "MUM" program? because that thing is pretty damn good and this gadget would have to be pretty special to not be crap in comparison.

I like this alot, with 3 telstra accounts I have to monitor my usage like a hawk. At least with this I can have 3 meters running and at a glance of my desk top I know where I stand.

*edit*

usage item ftw

i have so many downloads available to me, i dont even care about my usage anymoar

I have 150GB of quota, but it still needs to be managed, since it's split between on-peak and off-peak.