? about Hulu...

**lovestoread** · 06-30-2010, 11:53 AM

I want to start using Hulu...but when I go there all I seem to be able to watch are excerpts...about 2 min worth..What am I doing wrong? And when I do watch it , it is not a smooth picture..very (for lack of a better description) herky-jerky....Can anyone explain their experience with Hulu or other sites like it , and tell me what I can do , please???? I would love to watch True Blood, and The Tudors...

**lparker** · 06-30-2010, 12:10 PM

do you have satellite internet? I do and can't watch videos.

**Inkstain82** · 06-30-2010, 12:24 PM

Some of the shows Hulu lists aren't actual shows they have full episodes of. They just have clips of these.

I don't believe either True Blood or The Tudors are available on Hulu.

**Gabe** · 06-30-2010, 12:28 PM

Looks like they are ramping out Hulu premium. Charge $9 a month and will give you access to more content.

I use netflix and I like it so far. Have you tried it?

**MomsaBasketCase** · 06-30-2010, 12:32 PM

It depends on the station and the show. Some CBS shows are unavailable; like Criminal Minds...they just show clips. Usually, if the station website won't show complete episodes, you can be sure that Hulu won't. I can't answer as to why they do this, though.

tv.com is another site you can go to for complete episodes. I know there's another one out there but the name escapes me at the moment.

**lovestoread** · 06-30-2010, 12:33 PM

No, my internet is Verizon DSL....and no, Gabe , I haven't tried Netflix...still in a contract (1 more year) with Dish, but I wanted to try Hulu before to see if I would like it once the contract is up...

**shoiji** · 06-30-2010, 12:37 PM

You may not be able to get all the full episodes on the shows. Also check to make sure you click the tab for full show not clips. Although some shows are only clips.

It all really depends on the shows you enjoy watching. I really like having hulu to watch a show or movie on. Just look around to see if what shows you are interested in watching.

**lotsadebt** · 06-30-2010, 12:55 PM

I believe HuLu is owned by NBC. True Blood is an HBO series. A paid premium channel. Best bet is to order the DVD's from Netflicks or a Redbox.

**Josephhgoins** · 06-30-2010, 01:35 PM

I know how to fix the jerky part.

once the show starts, it pause and let the buffer get full. You will usually be good to go. Also, if you watch in the 360P inlieu of the 480 p it eliminates some of this. You just get poorer quality.

I watch it sometimes as well, but Cable still has it beat 10-1.

**janeysaurus** · 06-30-2010, 04:15 PM

Hulu does have tech support, and one of the help articles is about video streaming, with several tips to troubleshoot stutter-y, choppy playback (hehehe, still don't have enough posts yet, so can't link directly to the articles).

It could be as simple as needing to update Flash, switching browsers, or turning off other bandwidth- or memory-intensive programs while you try to watch something.
It could be something a little more complicated, especially if you're running an older machine with slower proc/less RAM/slower vid card. Or an issue with your DSL connection or the router.

Chances are, you probably have too many things running at the same time you are trying to watch a Hulu video.
Next time you try to watch something, try closing out everything else that's open, as well as other browser window/tabs. And also try what Josephhgoins suggested about starting a video and then pausing it to fill the buffer (oddly enough, Hulu is the only site where having a full buffer makes playback worse for me on certain machines...but in general, it's good advice especially if you have a comparatively slower connection or busier home network).

From a quickie search, True Blood and The Tudors are only available as clips (recaps and exerpts) on Hulu and HBO (for True Blood); Showtime seems to have two full episodes up for The Tudors (season 3 ep 1 and season 4 ep 1) for a sort of teaser "watch then buy" sort of thing.

**Palooka** · 07-01-2010, 01:22 AM

Have you tried Fancast?

**craftypam** · 07-01-2010, 08:08 AM

loves to read;
netflix is like a video store; except that you get the videos in your home. It's $9 a month to have 1 at a time. They send them to you in the mail and you send them back; no postage required. You can get more at a time for more money. I don't know if you can get them directly to your computer; someone who has that will have to let you know.

**Saule** · 07-04-2010, 04:40 PM

I don't have cable and use Hulu on my DSL and netbook - it's fine for me. Others have suggested closing windows, buffering, and that generally gives me a good enough video. I always look for full episodes. As noted, not all shows are on there. I record shows on CBS, for example, and watch others on Hulu - mainly when my husband wants to watch something else.

My understanding is that the paid Hulu will still give you ads, but that you will have more episodes to watch.