The hype is on: online movie outlets are cropping up all over the net. Get in on the action and watch experimental shorts and full-lengths features, animation and documentaries on your desktop right now.
Difficulty Level: Average Time Required: 20 minutes
Here's How:
- Your connection speed is key. If you are on a company network, DSL, or other broadband connection, you are wired for high quality.
- If you are connected by modem, the films will be a bit small, but you can see them nonetheless.
- Pick one of the sites from my ever-expanding list.
- Look for streaming video. This means that you don't have to download the entire movie, but you can start watching it as soon as the download starts.
- Get the software you need. All sites generally offer download links. If you run Windows, you already have the media player. Another common viewer is the RealPlayer. You can download it for free.
- Now you're ready to select a movie. Many sites let viewers rank films - those might be a good place to start.
- If the site gives you a choice, make sure to select the right connection speed.
- Close all other programs. Any software running in the background can slow your computer down and affect the quality of the film.
- Experiment with your player's settings. Even on a modem connection, double-sized windows can look good. Full screen is worth a try but usually only works well with fast connections.
- Make some popcorn, turn down the lights, enjoy.
- Try a variety of sites - the quality of films differs wildly. There is
a lot of amateurish work and some true gems out there.
Related Features:
- Netlinks: Online Movies
