Is it me, or is this normal?
Someone suggests a video clip or music video, or an instructional video and posts a url. Sometimes its You Tube, sometimes other, but they all do the same thing. They take forever to DL, I mean 10,12,15 min or more for a 1-3 min clip. It plays 1-2 sec of the clip, hiccuped, with long pauses in between- as the file DL's.
Then when it is finally DL'd, it plays like a skipped record, and the video is blurred and not synched with the audio.
If Instructional its frustrating, it skips video as if the frames per second dropped from 32 (or 24 for film) to 10 or less. So the video instruction (say a musical instrument) that I wanted to look at, is useless.
I've read comments about what I've DL'd (and heard and seen this way) saying that it was great!
Others must've seen it and not had this problem.
So what's my problem? My dial-up line? Don't have DSL or cable or broadband, just plain ole dial-up.

I've a Compaq Presario with XP and 512 RAM (504?), 2.6 gig Intel Celeron Processor, 120 gb HD., dunno how much VDRAM. I also have an old Dell with 98SE & 512 RAM, 80 gig HD. Not much difference between the two in video DL's & playback.
BTW, have a DVD drive and it plays Video DVD's OK.

So what's wrong here?

yep...it's the dial up bob. aren't you on aol too? i am.

i don't even try any of the you tube stuff. it is not my computer. it's top of the line.

the pits huh?

sounds like the dial up all right - been there - finally got DSL last year.

There might be a few tweaks in your player settings, vid card settings and general computer settings that might help a little bit.

I usually look thru those and see if there is a mention of speeding up or changes for performance etc.

Yup, AOL- tho, I use Firefox mostly, but AOL is the ISP- hate it! Thought it might be the dial-up, Dang!
Wife has to be convinced, tho. Almost had her convinced about 6 mos back. We were seriously getting $$ info on switching to broadband, still with phone lines, tho.
Prollem is- I dunno that much about all the options available
to us in this area, and the costs.
The cost is where the wife kinda stalls.
It kinda died an unnatural death (the idea of switching)
by attrition, and un/in-attention.

I got the verizon DSL when they had a 1 yr @ 14.95 a month {for a 1yr agreement}- now my yr is up so it will jump up to 19.95 {1 yr agreement} but that is still cheaper than most places that I've compared.

Here is a site for information about broadband in your area. http://www.dslreports.com/overview?v=r
I know, in my area, basic DSL is cheaper than AOL dialup. You can keep your AOL email address, when you go to broadband.

Thank you for posting the chart.. Sue

Me too,
Thanks