How to download the Vysotsky videos

[Benjamin Sher]

Dear friends:

I just responded to an inquiry from a list member concerning the
Vysotsky videos. I thought that this might interest some of you who may
have had problems with playing it. So, here is a copy of my letter.

The correct URL for the Vysotsky videos is:

http://kulichki.rambler.ru/vv/ovys/teatr/

(Same address as on my Index under Multimedia -- Video)

Look on your right: "Izbrannye videofragmenty"

You will see two types of connection speed: 20kbps for narrow-band (28.8
or 56k) modems and 200 or 300kbps (anything over 150 is high-speed or
broadband).

You must have RealPlayer installed, whichever speed you use. You can get
RealPlayer (or Windows Media Player, if that is what is called for)
FREE, from http://www.real.com for RealPlayer and
http://www.microsoft.com for Windows Media Player. Just make sure that
you get the absolutely FREE no-strings-attached version. They try to
hide it and get you to buy the 29.95 commercial version (called
RealPlayerPlus, which they allow you to evaluate for "free" for 30 days
and then they want you to pay for it. Essentially, they are counting on
the naive newcomer's naivete). You do NOT need it. The free RealPlayer
version (called just RealPlayer) is just as good. Don't be fooled.
Either way, the current version is RealPlayer 7. And the current version
for Windows Media Player is 6.4.

Most people still have only 28.8, 33.3 or 56kbps connections
(narrow-band and very slow download for video). Universities mostly have
broadband, and millions of people are now signing up for broadband
either through ADSL (from your telephone company, usually) or through
Cable (usually Cable companies). Both ADSL and Cable are capable of
300kbps or higher. This allows you to watch a video (whether a tape or
streaming, "real-time" broadcast in good quality and synchronization. It
all depends on how important this is to you because broadband usually
costs $40 to $50 per MONTH plust initial installation cost. If you want
to watch live domestic Russian TV (See my Index  under Multimedia --
Video), then you might consider investing in broadband. If all you want
is audio, an ordinary 28.8 modem is more than sufficient for
stereo-quality audio broadcasts such as you will get from Radio Svoboda
at http://www.svoboda.org (either Live (priamoi efir -- look at the top
left) or tape. Same for listening to music. No need for broadband. But
video is EXTREMELY demanding of resources.

At any rate, if you try to watch the Vysotsky video (about 3-4 minutes
for each of the 5 videos) and you try to do this with an ordinary 28.8
or 56k modem, it will take you over an hour (or over thirty minutes) of
sitting and waiting for the entire file to download (you can see the
progress at the bottom left or right of your browser window -- the
status bar) before it launches your RealPlayer. With broadband, if
network traffic is not too heavy, it takes only about 2 minutes for the
7 to 8 MEGABYTE file to download.

You have a choice in this case of downloading it and playing it or
downloading it to your computer (by holding on the Shift key while
clicking on the link (which in this case is simply the number 20kbps or
200kbps (or 300kbps) which, as you notice, is underlined. If you just
click on it, you will not be able to download it PERMANENTLY to your
computer. If you do hold the Shift key while clicking on the link, you
can downlaod it permanently to your computer's hard drive (choose your
"temp" directory if asked) and play it later whenever you feel like it.

I hope this explains things. If you new to the Interent, I sympathize.
It's fantastic, but it does take some serious learning.

My best wishes.

Benjamin


--
Benjamin and Anna Sher
sher07 at bellsouth.net
Sher's Russian Web
http://www.websher.net

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