I've been a (mostly) happy Netflix subscriber for 8/9 years. I was grandfathered in for $7.99/mo for HD streaming on two devices simultaneously. That's about to go up to $9.99/mo. The price increased combined with the decline of available titles in the Netflix catalog prompted me to switch to Amazon Prime.
For $99/yr, you get the video streaming service, two-day free shipping, Amazon's music service and a few other things. I've tried Amazon's video service before and didn't care for the UI and player. Netflix is more user friendly and I don't like how Amazon lumps the free streaming content in with the premium stuff that you have to pay for above the Prime subscription.
If I didn't have young children, I probably wouldn't have a paid service at all. I haven't had cable in 15 years and I can watch pretty much anything I want for free online. At $7.99/month,, Netflix has been worth it to give the kids some things they can view easily view on our tv or on a laptop/tablet. Honestly, there hasn't been much of interest on Netflix for me in the past couple years.
We'll see how it goes with Amazon. I find some of the Amazon original programming more appealing than what Netflix offers. Having the other Amazon perks along with the video streaming, for less money overall, seems very appealing.
Netflix has a nice interface that's coming built into more and more TVs, like our Samsungs we got over the holidays.
With YouTube built into a lot of TVs, there's a whole lot of free options there, too.
We've got a pair of 2TB HDs plugged into the main TV, with a shit-ton of ripped movies/TV shows on each and that gives us a LOT of options to watch.
I'm just starting to use Amazon's music service that is included with the Prime membership. So far I'm loving it.
My office picks up my Prime membership to get free (actually reduced, of course) 2-day shipping on (some) things I order for work; so I get to have the best of both worlds, Prime video and Netflix.
And then I rarely ever use either of them. :buck2: :crazy2:
I got Amazon Prime mainly for free 2-day shipping. The movies & music streaming is a nice plus that wins me over after I've been waffling about getting it.
But Amazon's movie selection isn't very good.
And, unlike Mirth, I haven't found an Amazon-made or exclusive series which I really enjoyed. They're mostly stuffy drama types I prefer to generally avoid. I think Netflix has them beat in the geek/nerd series creation department, easily.
Just like regularly changing insurance companies, or service providers, I occasionally turn Netflix off and switch to a different service, to get more variety. Or let my Amazon Prime lapse for awhile in between, if not ordering much.
Although there is much content crossover between those, and stuff like Hulu, there are enough exclusives to hop around & get the widest variety between them all.
Also - I was told that Amazon Prime is now offering Monthly subscriptions & we no longer have to pay for a whole year up front.
Quote from: Nefaro on April 18, 2016, 12:30:20 PM
Also - I was told that Amazon Prime is now offering Monthly subscriptions & we no longer have to pay for a whole year up front.
I think Amazon broke the video streaming out as separate monthly service for $8.99. And you can get the full Prime membership for $10.99/mo. I just did the Prime annual sub which was still $99/year. It's hard to beat for what averages out to just over $8/mo.
Anyway, if there's enough stuff for the kids to watch (and it looks like there will be) it will work out fine. The music service is much better than I expected and should be a nice added bennie for me.
I've had both Amazon Prime and Netflix for years. Between the two, I've never felt the loss of cable or even broadcast TV. And I buy enough stuff from Amazon that getting the videos and music as part of my Prime is simply gravy.
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