Youtube file downloading options.

I feel so naughty, telling people how to copy material that belongs to others, but sites like Youtube and Google make millions from videos that don't belong to them anyway (people voluntarily submit them free). I don't encourage the downloading of copyrighted materials though, unless there is no affordable, commercial option. So here are some programs I found to help out.

A webpage that lists the 23 most recommended options, including websites that convert the files for you, to installing your own programs to do it yourself. (it mentions V-downloader, but I found it to be an awkward program that often was never able to access the video files anyway - unless it has been upgraded since I installed it)
http://mashable.com/2007/05/05/download-youtube-video

Mozilla Firefox. It was recommended to me by another board member some time ago, but I found that you need an extension to the browser for it to be able to do it. And here's how:
http://www.gilsmethod.com/htdownload...romtheinternet

And one Website that does it for you, that appeared on a number of searches (could be reliable, but haven't tried it for sure).
http://www.savetube.com/
If anyone else here has any recommended options or programs, post here.

The firefox option probably won't work, now that I have been reading up on other people's reviews on it. It seems that websites like youtube find ways to block new programs aimed at downloading their content. So it's just a matter of finding a new program that gets around the current blocks.

Okay, after an hour of searching and fiddelling, I think I managed to finally find a way to download and view the animated files on youtube.
There is a free extension to mozilla firefox here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
More info on the extension here:
http://www.downloadhelper.net/welcome.php?version=2.5.3
It will allow your firefox browser to detect imbedded files and allow you to download them to your computer. Doesn't appear to be able to convert the files it saves, so if you don't have a program to view flv files (youtube's format), then search on yahoo/google for 'free flv viewers'. I found this one, and have successfully used it:
http://www.wimpyplayer.com/products/...lv_player.html

Hopefully that should be all I need to do, without having to pay for anything.
Anything easier and free out there?

http://www.downloadfromyoutube.com/

as a bum on dial up i have no other option but to download from youtube

http://vixy.net/

doesnt always work but its good nonetheless

George

I used to be able to save YouTube files from IE's cache but that hasn't been working lately. Much less is caching than used to.

I used the VLC player to watch saved flv files -- www.videolan.org .