Plugins and other stuff

[mayors 0]

So I wanna use the lot exchange to get some new buildings and stuff, but the comp with my sc4 on it isnt connected to the internet. So i tried to download th e lot on a different comp with internet access and then save the Plugin onto a USB flash drive or whatever. but then I get a message saying that I need to have simcity installed which I think really sucks. Is there a way to get this thing to lemme download without me installing simcity?

and also another question.. whats the best way to deal with commute time? I remember when I was a ***** and I had commute times of around 80 and every single house that gets built is abandoned. but now I'm a lot better and usually in the 60's although I'm worried bad zoning or raod placement or whatever is going to kill my city again. 

and another thing: is this true? that residents simply calculate the most direct way to their work. say if there was a highway and a street leading to their place of employment and the street was more direct they would choose to commute via street even though the highway would get them there much quicker?

EDIT: oh and one last thing, can someone gimme a list of " must-downloads" , like which lots from the exchange are really cool and i should have (pls dont include those lots that ruin the game like the things that give u $4billion dollars a month or the power plant thats free and gives 1000000 power or such.

thx for replies

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The SimCity.com site wants the game installed.  Do your downloading from here, SC4Devotion or Simpeg.  I don't think any ot them care, but the home site wants to install the lots.  You shouldn't do that anyway.

The best way to deal with commute time is to install the NAM and use one of the improved path finding choices.  I use perfect path finding.

The only must downloads are the NAM and the Opera House Fix.  The rest depends on your playing style and goals.  Read the sticky on Plugin Mania.  You have to be careful with plugins because there are now so many you can get conflicts.

[mayors 0]

alright I can download plugins from this site without hassles, thanks

now my city isnt bland anymore.

just one thing though, once of the plugins i loaded gave me a message that said i had to insert the lask disk of some program. can someone explain?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

What plugin is that?  What is its URL?  That should not happen.

[mayors 0]

it was a texture/prop package from the STEX. I've noticed pretty much anything I try to download from this site and is over 1mb stops downloading about halfway and says it completed even though its not. then when I try to open the uncompleted plugin folder, it requests I insert some disk or that the folder is corrupt/invalid.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

You should use Firefox and a download controller.  I suspect the activity on the server is the problem.