Downloading YouTube Videos

While viewing some classic skits of the "Swedish Chef" from "The Muppet Show" last night on YouTube, it sadly quickly became apparent that downloading these files to the local hard drive isn't as easy as right-clicking the mouse and selecting a destination. (Sure, YouTube offers some cool organizing and sharing features, but there's something comforting about having the files safe on your hard drive, like warm socks in your dresser drawer.) Never fear, however, since it's still pretty easy: here are 23 downloader tools to do the work for you.  There are several different classes of these tools--here's a quick rundown:

Web-based: You don't need to download any third-party applications to your computer. Great for simple converting or for when you may not be able to install applications on the computer, such as in the workplace--but, while everyone I've checked with loves the Swedish Chef, I can't guarantee that your boss will. Anyway, I've just tried this one and can confirm that it works well: www.mediaconverter.com. Converting to simple ol' .avi files are probably the safest bet.

Dedicated applications: These come in flavors for Windows, OS X, and Linux. They probably offer the best results, but it may take some trial and error to discover which ones work best for you, and not all may be free.

Plugins: You need to use the Firefox browser to take advantage of these--but, if you're not already using it, you should strongly consider it--it's free, open-source, and fast. Plus, it's highly customizable--hence the easy-to-use plugins for downloading YouTube videos.

In addition, make sure to read the comments that others have supplied--apparently, some decent utilities were overlooked in the original article. Now, download away!