1. What do I need to play the videos?
You'll need a frames-compatible browser (Internet Explorer 3.0 or Netscape Navigator 3.0 or later) and version 4.0 or later of the Apple QuickTime® Player. This software can be downloaded for free from www.apple.com/quicktime for both PC and Macintosh computers.

We also suggest you upgrade to at least Netscape 4.0 or Internet Explorer 5.0. Click on the preceeding links to go to the download pages for these browsers.

Install the browser upgrade first (if necessary), then click on the QuickTime download link and follow the instructions to install QuickTime.

2. What's the difference between the "Modem" and "Cable" videos?
Both the cable and modem downloads play the same videos; the difference is only in the video quality. Clicking MODEM selects video optimized for dial-up modems, which results in much smaller file sizes, and therefore faster download times better suited to 56K telephone modems. CABLE uses a higher-bandwidth transmission to deliver high-quality video over the web.

You can choose either version. The actual video that plays has nothing to do with how you connect to the Internet: they're just suggestions to save you time and frustration. Some of the high-quality clips are very large and would take hours to download fully over a dial-up modem. On the other hand, if you're exceptionally patient and your modem doesn't often drop the connection...

Technical specs:
MODEM = 7.5 frames per second, 180x135 pixel frame
CABLE = 15 fps, 240x180 pixel frame

3. Nothing happens when I try to view a video!
Be patient! The video won't begin to play immediately unless you've got a very fast Internet connection. The videos are encoded in "progressive" form which buffers (stores) enough of the video to play it uninterrupted while it continues to download the rest in the background. This may cause a pause before the video actually begins playing, but once it starts it will play through in its entirity without annoying pauses or stuttering. Generally, this is much more effective for video presentations.

4. Why does the Windows Media Player start, but the video never plays?
If you have Windows Media Player 6.4, it will attempt to play QuickTime video streams, but it isn't compatible with later versions of QuickTime! If this is the case, when you click a video you'll see the Windows Media Player open, but no video. Eventually it will time out and display an error that the "Codec is not available."

You have two choices: download the QuickTime Player (see question 1), or the updated version 7.1 of Windows Media Player. (Click here to go to Microsoft's download page for the Media Player.)

Both will work, but the QuickTime Player represents both a faster download and poses a smaller drain on your computer's processing power.

5. I clicked "OK" when Windows Media Player asked if I wanted to download the latest "Codec," but the video still won't play!
See the answer to Question 4 above discussing the Windows Media Player 6.4. The QuickTime codec ("compressor/decompressor") plugin for WMP 6.4 is for an earlier version of QuickTime and won't work with more recent versions.

You have two choices: download the QuickTime Player (see question 1), or the updated version 7.1 of Windows Media Player. (Click here to go to Microsoft's download page for the Media Player.)

Both will work, but the QuickTime Player represents both a faster download and poses a smaller drain on your computer's processing power.