If you would like to download the official client, just go to the official website and download from the download section, its totally free.
This method is no longer possible. You must download the new installer from batlle.net to play World of Warcraft.
The client will automatically download each patch that you are missing in succession. This could be a few, or a lot if you haven't played in a while.
Manual patching is no longer needed, just go to Battle.net and log onto your account, then select World of Warcraft and download the client.
Patch 5.0.0 should be the next major content patch (right before Mists of Pandaria comes out) for World of Warcraft. There probably will not be a patch 4.4.
You need to download the patch.
you can't
The length of time it takes to download a patch depends on the size of the patch and the speed of your connection. On the whole, patches can take 6-8 hours if they are major content updates, and less than 30 minutes for minor patches. If you download a patch from a patch mirror (a third party site) it can be quicker.
its already out
www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/3.2.0
For world of warcraft, all patches are applied automatically, you can not stop it. if you stop the client, then the client does not get updated and you can not use it to play. world of warcraft has an automatic updater, you do not need to do anything besides letting it run.
Before 3.2
In order to play the game, you have to download the client. It may be a big download to start out, but once it is updated, you will not have to have to download as much when the client gets updated in the future, unless they come out with a HUGE patch.