[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Amazon Prime vs. Netflix: Video Streaming Feature Showdown here

[trrll]

To be fair, the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series is not a new release in Sweden, but it was only recently released theatrically in the US.

By the way, despite Amazon's announcement, streaming is not yet available on my TiVo. Presumably TiVo will have to roll out a software upgrade.

[MPrck]

I would love to see Amazon Prime go out, and get those 50's Horror, and Sci-Fi films. Amazon Prime is a great shopping site, and you always get the best price out there. I would love to see them also go link up with TCM to stream the great classics they have. I have DVD players all over the house, but have not used them in a few years as streaming is the way I watch Foreign Films, and Dramas.

[AprilPenningerDuritza]

Not sure you are giving the shipping aspect due credit. That's not just free shipping, that is free Two Day shipping an ANY size order. Talk about saving you a lot of gas! Say I need a $4.50 cable. Order it Prime on Monday, get it Wednesday, save myself a trip to town. The reason Amazon added Streaming to Prime may be because they don't want to stock enough selection to compete directly with Netflix. That would cannibalize their streaming rentals and sales. No, this is more like all the free books that are available on Kindle. They get people set up and using Amazon's software, and then if they ARE interested in renting something, they are all ready to go for that too. In the meantime, it provides another perk for new and existing Prime members, encouraging Amazon brand loyalty. It's a pretty shrewd move, I think! The obvious answer for the consumer is to get both! We cancelled our cable a long time ago, and the cost of Prime and Netflix together pales in comparison to how much we used to pay for our cable bill.

[kronoscornelius]

I would appreciate if you start by telling me what Amazon Prime is. I google it, and it looks like a shipping subscription... kind of like a Sam's or Cotsco membership plan. So, why are we comparing it to Netflix.

[RaulYbarra]

The only thing Amazon has going for it is that it's a nice added value if you already have Prime (as I do) and that you can pay annually instead of monthly.

[webdoyenne]

The Amazon service is not available via the Wii or the PS360. I currently watch Netflix via my Wii and have zero interest in buying yet another electronic gizmo to hook up to my TV. And I don't like watching TV on my laptop. Been a Prime member for years...but gotta pass on this one -- at least for now.

[LucasLang]

Amazon Prime works on Linux, while Netflix still does not. A plus for Prime for Linux users.

[popnowlin]

There is one thing amazon has that netflix doesn't. Amazon will let you watch movies from your linux box without having to resort to sudo antics. Netflix won't, and it doesn't look like they're ever going to.

[ROKUISTHEBEST]

ou forgot about Hulu.com. But in Amazon.com's defense, I have ordered extensively from the site, and every order was "Prime" eligible--meaning that it shipped FREE! I recouped my $79 a year within 3 months of signing up with Amazon Prime. I love British comedies, and Amazon Prime seems to have more selections than both Netflix and Hulu put together. I subscribe to all 3 because I'm a very select movie/tv viewer. Still, with all 3, I'm paying about $23 a month as opposed to the $85 a month that I was paying for cable, which only carried about 3 programs that I watched on a regular basis. It just wasn't worth it. I also spent a total of $65 for both an antenna and a digital converter box (still have an analog set), and now I can get all of the local channels as well.

[ROKUISTHEBEST]

kronoscornelius, on 23 February 2011 - 03:51 PM, said:

I would appreciate if you start by telling me what Amazon Prime is. I google it, and it looks like a shipping subscription... kind of like a Sam's or Cotsco membership plan. So, why are we comparing it to Netflix.

On that same page, there is a section where you can sign up for Amazon's video selections. If you become a "Prime" member, you automatically have access to Amazon's free video selections, which can be streamed just like Netflix. In addition to Prime movies, there are also movies that you can "rent" for streaming to your TV and some that you can rent or even "purchase."

[LouNeinernk4g]

I'm hearing impaired. Netflix has about 900 titles that are closed captioned even though they say they have about 1500. Amazon Prime has none, 0, nada. Nor does Blackbuster, by the way. So if I stream, I have no choice but Netflix, and then not much of a selection either. I'm forced to watch most movies on DVD.

I've asked Netflix whether they have a plan to add more CC titles and they promise, but so far, haven't delivered.

[GeorgeinSantaFescdr]

I'm hearing impaired. Netflix has about 900 titles that are closed captioned even though they say they have about 1500. Amazon Prime has none, 0, nada. Nor does Blackbuster, by the way. So if I stream, I have no choice but Netflix, and then not much of a selection either. I'm forced to watch most movies on DVD.

I've asked Netflix whether they have a plan to add more CC titles and they promise, but so far, haven't delivered.

[GeorgeinSantaFescdr]

I'm hearing impaired. Netflix has about 900 titles that are closed captioned even though they say they have about 1500. Amazon Prime has none, 0, nada. No does Blackbuster, by the way. So if I stream, I have no choice but Netflix, and then not much of a selection either. I'm forced to watch most movie on DVD.

I've asked Netflix when they might increase their CC l;ibrary but I get empty promises. Way to ignore the disabled, Netflix!

[josefferguson]

I would love to see this article revisited now that Netflix has raised prices, split their plans, and lost Starz.
I have both Amazon prime (for the shipping) and (now only) Netflix instant streaming and am trying to decide if maybe it's not time to swtich to the disc-only plan or dump Netflix altogether.
Add an Amazon tablet into the mix (purchase of which will include a free year of prime and which will, one would hope, stream their own video) and the whole thing gets a little more interesting.

[faustshausuk]

Amazon Prime is an also ran until I can use it on my iPad and Xbox 360 - the devices on which I do all of my Netflix streaming presently.

[JMigIII]

I don't care for shipping. I want to stream it Today not watch it in 4 Days. I don't Plan to watch a movie that far ahead.

[jabailo]

Amazon prime works on desktop Linux. Netflix does not.

[Garry6e5d]

I don't have either service at the moment. Lately I was having an urge to watch the move "Deja Vu" so I went looking to see who had it for download. Amazon did, Netflix not. I also discovered this season the TV show "Fringe". Now I find out I'm 3 seasons behind. So who has old copies to download? Amazon yes, Netflix no.
The same with "The Good Wife" I've not seen the 1st season and Amazon has it, Netflix does not. So Netflix is 0 for 3 for shows I'd like to download.

[BlueCat57]

Amazon doesn't even come close on queue management, remembering which episodes you watched, automatically starting the next episode, suggesting other shows you might like, etc., etc. Hulu doesn't come close either. Netflix it great and has outstanding customer service. (Though the group that made those two bonehead moves last year should be fired along with their marketing department which failed to accurately communicate the need for the changes. But that's a whole nuther rant.)