How to Stream Movies and TV Shows with Netflix

High-speed Internet packages seem to be getting faster and faster every month. Remember back in the day when a 1.0 Mbps connection meant you were some sort of super-geek and had the quickest connection in the neighborhood? Now, 1.0 Mbps is what we recommend for "normal people."

So, what are we using all this speed for? There are endless ways to use your megabits from video-gaming to video-chatting, but for most people the need for speed is based on their desire to stream things quickly.

Back in the day, you had to download almost everything you wanted to watch. Remember the Internet before YouTube when to watch the latest hilarious viral video you had to download a huge .wmv or .mov file? It could take hours for just one cat video, even with a speedy connection. These days though with our super-fast broadband connections, it's all about streaming. We even now have the ability to watch HD movies and TV shows over a streaming connection with no endless buffering and interruptions.

One of the most popular ways out there to watch streaming content is with Netflix. When they first got going, Netflix simply send DVDs through the mail as a quick and cheap alternative to video rental chains. Now though, people are starting to get over the whole "wait for a physical disk to show up in my mailbox so I an watch a movie" thing and the company is moving towards a streaming model. From the hottest new movies to that weird show you used to watch as a kid, a lot of media is available to watch instantly using the service.

While it sounds like some pretty complicated and geeky, getting Netflix streaming content on your computer or TV is pretty easy. Here's how to do it:

• Make Sure You Have the Speed – Streaming movies and TV takes a bit of muscle—just imagine all the bits and bytes it takes to render the awesomeness of a Caruso one-liner. For optimum performance, you really need a connection of at least 3.0 Mbps. Is your Internet not quick enough? If not, no worries, just head over to the WhiteFence homepage, enter your address and you can compare your broadband options to find a plan that has the speed you'll need.

• Set Up Your Device(s) – Here's the great thing about watching content via the Internet, you can choose where you want to watch it. Gone are the days where you can only watch TV on your TV! Netflix streaming works with a variety of devices: your computer, your game console (Xbox 360, Wii and PS3 all support Netflix streaming), your Blu-Ray player, or even standalone devices like the Roku. From the big screen in the living room to your netbook in the bathroom, you should be able to easily set up Neflix streaming on all of the screens in your house.

• Subscribe to Netflix –Netlfix plans are very affordable and allow you to watch unlimited content online and still order physical DVDs. Here's the cool thing, though: you get a free, no risk two week trial. That's right, you can be watching movies on your computer or TV in just a couple of a minutes for free! Head over to the Netflix site to get started.

• Enjoy the Future – Relax, kick back and watch your favorite shows and movies whenever and wherever you want. Just don't forget the popcorn (that can't be streamed yet).