We switched from Netflix to Amazon because we buy a lot from Amazon (I have a Kindle), and with their premium Account membership, most movies are free - or much cheaper than Netflix, and more and newer movies.

We like streaming video, the Amazon runs on cable connection, so we can watch movies from any TV in the house. DH just likes the comfort and lower cost than Netflix or going out to a theater.
We usually watch on the 48" flat screen on the wall in the family room, it's fairly new, and supports HD and 3-D.

Monica, would you mind comparing the price of Amazon versus Netflix? I'm wondering how that works with Amazon. We pay $7.99/month for unlimited streaming with Netflix.

Chisue, we're very happy with the choices and the service with Netflix. No glitches. If you stop watching a movie/TV show, you can go back even days later to finish watching it, and it'll pick up right where you left off. DH watches streaming Netflix 8 hours a day on his days off, always has something to watch. He loves it.

Amazon Prime membership includes:
FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items
No minimum order size
Unlimited instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with Prime instant videos
A Kindle book to borrow for free each month from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library

Join Amazon Prime for $79/year.

I asked DH about the blue ray thing. He says that we don't need Blue Ray for the big flat screen TV because Blue Ray is built in.
And, when you buy a Blue Ray system, in order to see Netflix, you have to look to see if the system supports Blue Ray - not all do.

I also found this link from Netflix, to activate particular Blue Ray players. Seems they all don't have the ability.

Here is a link that might be useful: Activate Sony

Thanks for the info, Monica. I saw on the Hugo thread that the movie cost $3.99...is that in addition to the $79/year for Amazon Prime? I guess that's what I'm confused about.

Yes...recent films will have that nominal charge (and 4.99 for the HD/3D version), but I'd say that about 99% are free.

That yearly fee also covers free shipping on many things you buy from Amazon.
Amazon does offer a month's free trial.

I see. Thanks, Monica.

Amazon Prime does sound like a good deal, especially since I buy a lot from Amazon, too. Late last year I read a comparison of the various streaming options, including Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu Plus. Netflix seemed to have a lot more of what I wanted, but I watch more TV shows than movies most of the time. Now that I'm reaching the end of Netflix's episodes of In Plain Sight and some other of my favorite shows, I'm curious to know if Amazon offers them. Any idea how I might find out?

They have both films and TV episodes

You can watch anywhere--in your living room, online, or on the go. Instant Videos are available for instant streaming on the Kindle Fire, as well as PC, Mac, Roku, and hundreds of TVs and Blu-ray players.
When you choose the Watch Now feature, you get instant access to your video on a Mac or PC through your web browser using Adobe Flash Player. The videos play back in your computer's web browser without requiring the download of large files or installation of video player software.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon streaming video

Here's a PC World comparison of Netflix vs Amazon

Here is a link that might be useful: Comparison from PC World

So, the bottom line from the PC World comparison is: "At $1.41 more per month, Netflix beats Amazon Prime on selection and platform availability."

I like a bigger selection, so I'll stick with Netflix.

Thanks, Monica--that was helpful. I'll stick with Netflix, too. My son enjoys Amazon Prime, but I always get free USPS shipping because my Amazon orders are over $25. So wouldn't be eager to shell out the $79 unless the video selections tempted me.

You do know that article is over a year old? I have Netflix and pay $7.99/mo for streaming option. I will say that there is very little of interest movie-wise that I am even familiar with. Their "new releases" are old or were never the more popular movies in the first place. I am not advocating Amazon Prime because I know nothing about it but to compare the two you need more up-to-date info than Feb. 2011. again, not having Amazon, I do have Netflix and if you want to watch streaming movies on your tv you need a box to receive the signal from your computer then send it to the tv. Otherwise you can only watch on the computer which might be all you want anyway. If you want current movies to play on the tv you need to use Netflix's mail dvd service which is $8/mo. for a limited number of dvds or more fore a higher number.

I should also add that you can pay extra to watch current streaming movies with Netflix, you just pay beyond the $7.99/month(usually $3.99, $4.99). As a member, I can go on the Netflix site and check the availability of a certain movie and it will tell me whether or not I can watch or not. The movie doesn't even have to be new to not be available. Many old ones that are classics are not streamed also.

Jae_tn, all I saw was the February part (duh!) but you're right, it's a year old. Nevertheless the information is very similar to what I read in November or December, so I guess not a lot has changed.

If you love movies, watch this one.

Completely wonderful

These Amazing Shadows, about the national film registry.

It's too wonderful. On Netflix streaming.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Movies That Made America

Jobs was on the right track, trying to simplify TV! LOL

I wondered about the 'streaming' thing. What if everyone with a Netflix acount wanted to watch "The Grapes of Wrath" at 2 p.m. today? 'Not Available', eh?

Most of the ads I see for Netflix feature films that I couldn't be paid to watch. Maybe that's just a reflection of what Hollywood puts out for theater-going demographics. We watch a lot of old British TV series; I see *some* on the Netflix roster.

This 'simple upgrade' to a Blu-Ray player is turning out to be costly. The player is around $100, but now I realize that our receiver is a 2001 Yamaha; I don't even see any HDMI ports on it! The Blu-Ray has WiFi to Internet and can stream movies and music without a cable. I'm unsure how all these 'parts' inter-connect, but seems to me we have to get a new receiver. (Guessing the Abt tech patched together existing receiver and TV that was new in 2010.)

I wonder if 3D will stick around this time?

THANKS, everyone!

(Sushipup -- I've only seen a pitch to preserve and archive old movies. It was in the 'previews' on a DVD we were watching. They certainly ARE 'history' and worth saving!)

I don't think it matters how many people want to watch the same thing at the same time. I don't see how it possibly could, given the size of the Netflix membership. But I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I checked Netflix and Amazon offerings. We've SEEN most of these things -- for nothing. We've checked them out from our library over the years: "Foyle's War", "Doc Martin", "Midsummer Murders", etc.

I only see two items we'd want to get now: "Hugo" and Part Two of "Downton Abbey". (Our DVR failed to capture the first two episodes while we were away, so I'm 'way behind y'all on this.) Our library has both of these, but both are checked out right now.

Maybe 'streaming' is more useful for people without a library nearby? Ours is a three minute drive from home.

Have to stop. It's 'teatime'. We are watching Series Six of "New Tricks" -- on DVD from the library.

I don't think it matters at all how many people want to watch at the same time.

And for the record, The Grapes of Wrath is "not available for instant watching". Not a surprise since it's a classic........

Good point about the library. Ours is a half-hour away, and its collection is small. When I commuted to work I borrowed audio books, but I haven't taken out any videos.

Another advantage of streaming, at least for me, is that I can watch at my leisure. I don't have to worry about getting the DVDs back to the library. And I don't have to watch a TV series more or less all at once; I have quite a few on my Netflix Instant Queue from which I choose depending on my mood and available time. Last night I started early and so I watched Midsomer Murders, which is longer than most shows. The night before I watched Eureka. Two very different shows, but each suited my mood at the time.

Speaking of libraries......well, I think I'll start a new thread.

Make sure you don't have a bandwidth cap if you are streaming movies. Most have a super high cap - so you would never notice, but if you have a cell phone connection or a satellite connection - you will have a pretty measly monthly bandwidth cap....5GB to 10GB per month. You hit that ammount and they slow you down to below dialup speeds.

I have been hearing of some Verizon users also getting the slow down even though they have "unlimited" bandwidth. They were not told that when they got close to 3gb usage the would get throttled back ... way back... They still had "unlimted" data - just didn't say how fast it would be :(

Not having to get in the car and drive into town to get a movie is the reason I like streaming. The library is free, sure, but $7.99/month is very little to pay for instant watching without having to drive into town to find a movie, watch it, then drive back into town to return it....the gas used to do that would be more than the $7.99/month I pay for Netflix.

We watch streaming the same way we used to watch TV...any time of the day or night, for hours at a time if we want to. Driving into town to get all that and return it would be impossible.

Streaming is the best thing since, well, TV. ;)

I'm biting the bullet and looking for a new receiver with at least six HDMI 'ports'.

I don't think we will be 'streaming' anything unless the offerings improve for our 'demographic'. LOL

Today AT&T emailed me, touting their "U-Verse" -- which sounds like it would replace the DirecTV HD-DVR they already provide us, bundled with landline and internet. The promo seems aimed at people who need 24/7 'connectivity' via hand helds...or music. I doubt they have any wider selection movies on offer than what I saw on Amazon and Netflix.

Any DVD's we get from the library that are longer than a movie have two-week check-outs. We're in town a couple times a week anyway, so detouring a block to the library is easy. We still sometimes check out 'real' books, too. LOL

For all practical purposes, it doesn't matter how many people want to watch a particular offering at the same time. Think of it as people wanting to access a web site (which is what you're doing); generally everyone who wants to view the web site can access it at the same time. Occasionally a web site gets overwhelmed temporarily, but I think that would only happen if, say, a million people all decided to begin streaming The Incredible Hulk at precisely the same moment.

DH is the one who insists on streaming. We do have a good sized flat screen TV that is HD and 3D.
Going to a movie theater means driving there to see the movie at a set time, paying $12-15 each to get in, and another $10-12 for popcorn....just to sit in a cramped seat.
Watching streamed movies means no driving, free or a fraction of the cost of the theater, unlimited popcorn with real butter from a hot air pumper, and sitting on the sofa with our feet up - and no set time to watch it.
Oh, and we can pause the movie if the phone rings or nature calls - and not miss anything.
No one sitting in back of us and talking during the movie, or kicking my seat back.

Monica -- I'll tell the telephone surveyor not to bother you either! I couldn't answer his question about when we last went to a theater to see a movie. DH interjected that he and our DS had gone to see "Ghost Soldiers" about seven years ago.

I agree with your list of complaints about theaters and will add that the sound is almost always too loud. We often watch something at home in the afternoon, along with a cup of tea. ("Teatime Matinee") Our Westie would be upset to miss his bit of cookie if we went out!

BTW, I hope your new meds are working well. How's that beautiful granddaughter?

Chisue....Orencia just kicked in about 2 weeks ago. First time in over a year I have been "normal".
Granddaughter is doing fine, thank you. She amazes me all the time.

Monica -- Oh, that IS good news! *Normal* is just fine, thank you. LOL

Maybe we'll see a new photo of your DGD soon. Ours just turned one, but she is in the 99th percentile for height -- stretching the limits of 18 mos. clothing. She's walking confidently, but not talking. She doesn't need to talk with Mom, Dad and Big Brother (7) to wait on her!