DVD Review

Amazon and other providers now offer services that let viewers rent or buy movies directly online, to be downloaded and watched right away.  While this is convenient, most of these services are still limited in what movies they can provide – and on top of that, the downloads, which are usually several gigabytes, take quite a while to get onto your computer.  There is an alternative to video on demand services like this, however: streaming movies.

Streaming movie sites let you watch pretty much any movie you want.  They have huge selections and it’s much easier to get access to movies that are more obscure or older films.  These sites pay royalty fees to movie providers and companies so that they can host this content, and they then make it available to anyone who signs up for their service.

Unlike with online video on demand services, you don’t have to wait for movies to download in order to watch with streaming movie sites.  You search for the movie you want by name or category, and then have instant access to it.  The quality is just as good as it would be through a video on demand provider, as long as you go with a reputable service.

It’s good to have a fast internet connection (DSL/broadband or higher) to ensure that you get the best stream speed possible and good quality sound and picture.  You should also have a decent computer with a good graphics card for optimal viewing.

Streaming movie sites are an affordable, easy alternative to video on demand providers.  If you want an easy way to watch movies from your PC without having to wait at all, streaming sites are the way to go.

Amazon.com, Netflix, and many other mainstream providers offer video on demand services that let viewers rent or buy movies online.  These movies can be downloaded and viewed within the same day; however, the download times, which are usually long because of file size, are an annoyance.  There is actually a more affordable alternative to video on demand services, though.  Online streaming video and TV offer the same programs and movies at much less cost and hassle.

With streaming movie or TV sites, you can watch pretty much any movie you’d want to.  The selections of many of these sites rival even mainstream video stores.  They often have obscure films or ones that are harder to get hold of because they can host content from all over the world and have access to all different kinds of movies.

There are some illegitimate sites, so you have to be careful.  Free sites are usually dangerous since they only link to content rather than hosting it directly.  With legal sites, you do have to pay a one time fee.  The reason for this is that legal streaming TV and movie sites pay royalty fees to networks in order to host their content.  They have to supply money for those royalty fees, which comes from customers – just as it would if you were subscribed to regular cable.

The main advantage to streaming online video and TV sites is that you don’t have to wait for long video download times.  You do a search based on category or title of the movie you want, and then have immediate access to it for as long as you want to watch it.  As long as you have a decent computer and internet connection (DSL/broadband or higher), the quality will be just as good as if you downloaded it.

Streaming movie and TV sites offer a simple, affordable alternative to video on demand services and should be seriously considered before renting or buying movies online.