1. 

   Lembond
   

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   I'm looking for some comments comparing the two services.
   Amazon Prime offers some free stream content to the Prime Customers.
   Is there anyone who's used both that can offer some useful comparison between the two?
   Such as content available, user interface, etc.

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   phoo
   

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   Last time I used amazon streaming, there was a lot of BBC programs and less of the current US programs that Hulu has. You also had to sort through the stuff they wanted you to pay for if you did a search for a specific program. Netflix had another sort of programming as well. Not fresh like hulu, but less BBC programs (though they did get UK top gear in). Netflix used to be big on movies, but they've been killing that off while Amazon has been getting more content. Netflix is a good place to watch old reruns of shows you liked in the 80s and 90s. It just depends what you are looking for.

   Keep in mind that amazon streaming (and borrowing for kindle) only works for the primary subscriber.

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   Edog
   

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   I hated Netflix and left them some time ago. I hated them so much, I want to say it again. I hate netflix.

   I love Prime. I don't use Hulu so I can not comment on Phoos remarks. But find Prime current enough for our needs, and its not nearly as stale as the bottom rate crap netflix pedaled. I find the shows are current, but they don't give you the latest/current season on prime. For example, I pay like 3 bucks an episode to watch top rate show like Walking Dead the morning after it airs, because we have the most basic cable subscription. For shows that are equally as entertaining but not quite as hot they have several past seasons of current shows. For example, if you've never watched Sons of Anarchy and suddenly get into it, you can watch several seasons in a big binge, but will have to pay to watch the most recent season which just ended in either December or November. Similarly, they have all of seasons one and two of Downtown Abby but not the current season. As for TV, that should give you a sense of things.

   I've also found that Amazon tries to make more current offerings available to Prime subscribers but do so on a limited basis. In other words, they value your subscription, while Netflix treated subscribers like cattle.

   I love the free shipping, but what I like most about Prime is they have most of the shows that are part of the PBS Kids line up. I'm not a fan of plopping a kid in front of a tube, but when its needed there are several seasons of Sesame Street, Curious George, Word Girl, and other shows like that. And if you want saccharine they have a lot of Nickelodeons crap line up to... god damn Yo Gabba and Dora!!!

   Your mileage may vary.

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   dsomers
   

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   I have Prime mostly because of the shipping. I more than pay for it with savings on shipping costs. While I do like what they offer I find their video selection is a bit awkward to navigate through. Browsing is difficult. I also have Netflix and tend to use it more, but mostly because it is easier to browse through. Laziness triumphs. I avoid Hulu, for the inadequate and unreasonable reason that Fox TV is involved with it and as your basic, bleeding heart, commie, socialist, fascist, America hating, spend us into total disaster liberal, I won't go near anything Fox is associated with if I can reasonably help it. I know....a bad bias on my part....but there you are. <grin>

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   Sunset Hill David
   

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   Hey I understand that, dsomers, because I feel the same way about Amazon. I am in the book business and they are the enemy!

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   dsomers
   

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   I understand. I am afraid I read on a kindle a lot. (Kindle app on an ipad actually) It started when I lived on the boat and found I had little room for all the books I wanted, and mildew could be an issue if you werent cautious. So I started using the kindle to read and store books. I do still dearly love paper books, but tend to use the Kindle more than not. And I do love my local book shops and the library. Not quite sure how to reconcile this. Conundrums!

   SHD...do you run/work in a book shop or play some other role?

   D

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   SeaSpider
   

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   We have both and Hulu Plus and a few shows we subscribe to through Amazon. Seems excessive but it's still WAY cheaper than cable. At this point the only real reason to have cable is if you watch a lot of sports. Otherwise it's a huge waste of money. Lately I've been gravitating more towards Prime simply because there are several shows we subscribe to through Amazon and I like how I can have my subscription, rental, and owned content all in one place and viewable on my iPad or TV. With Netflix it's just Netflix. Do like that Netflix has a kids-specific interface on some devices. Hulu Plus is nice because they carry recently aired shows (Daily Show) and a few exclusive series (Spy). I gave up on TV shows/movies through iTunes - not a fan of paying for content and only being able to watch it on only Apple devices. Amazon is smart in making their content available on just about everything these days.

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   LY
   

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   Phoo--Prime allows household members which is great because one of my household is spending a lot of time in China, and loves to use the Prime benes including the movies (streamed through VPN but that is another story).

   We have both, Netflix streaming (Battlestar Gallactica!) as well as Prime. Never really find what I would like to see on Prime. Difficult also on Netflix but at least can watch BSG and George Gently... I find the Prime site more of a hassle to peruse.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   phoo
   

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   LY - Yes, prime allows shipping benefits to everyone in the household. But not for borrowing books or watching videos. I just wanted folks to be aware of that. Either the other members of the household must use your login or get their own subscription.

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    Sunset Hill David
    

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    Dsomers, I understand and I even buy ebooks myself, but I patronize the Apple bookstore and buy them for use on the iPad. I purposely avoid Amazon because they won't be happy until they run the entire book business themselves, and that includes publishing, distribution, you name it. I am in the book wholesaling business and have watched them put many stores out of business and now they are working on killing off publishers, too. It will be a sad day when they control everything and they are getting there very quickly.

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    BallardENTP
    

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    I have both. Amazon Prime recently got onto Xbox, which makes it a whole lot more convenient to get the stream onto your main TV. It's a quality stream with a wide range of content.

    Amzn Prime pros:
    1. Ease of use
    2. Value (currently, it's essentially a value-add for Amazon Prime "free" shipping)
    3. Selection
    4. Amzn frequently runs promos that give credit usable for Amzn Prime Streaming purchases

    Amzn Prime cons:
    1. Inconvenience. If you want to buy anything--if you want to watch anything that's not free to watch--you have to first buy it on Amzn's website. You can't buy through the Xbox app's interface. You have to buy it on Amazon.com, through a browser, then add that to your watch queue.
    2. That's it, really.

    Compared to Netflix: Amzn has some shows and movies that Netflix doesn't, and Netflix has some content that Amazon doesn't. And, like Netflix, Amzn is investing in producing original content. If you're a junkie for video content, neither one will fully fulfill your desires alone.

    My recommendation is to use both.

    Posted 4 months ago #

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