Amazon may give iTunes some competition

I think a lot of this will depend on porability. Graned, Amazon has a huge, I mean HUGE, customer base, so this seems like a good business decision overall. God knows Apple and iTunes could use some real competion, but what makes iTunes so successful is the iPod. Are there any DRM iPod-like devices out there at a reasonable price that can compete with the video iPod? I know when I was doing the research before my iPod purchase I found nothing that came close to the video iPod. Either way, competition is good. Apple has had it too easy for too long.

I'd be interested if they allowed UK to download such things as well, its vety annoying that we only get music videos and Pixar shorts.

I would use a download service, but it always comes back to the drm, filetypes, and limitations that are added to the content. If the amazon offerings allow me to do the things I want with the files, at a reasonable price, I would be game. My hope is that another big competitor to iTunes may bring about competition that is good for the consumer.

I've hosed my computer way too many times to trust my hard drive with the only copy of my media.

Why can't they grant my wish and make episodes available for download immediately after airing upon pre-ordering the DVD? I don't see how that would be such a terrible thing - I'd even pay a SMALL premium, but to me it seems like a logical thing to do. Of course, someone probably doesn't see that as making everyone enough money, so it'll never happen. But damn, that would be the best. ...and probably the only way I'd ever pay to download content inferior to a DVD that I'll most likely purchase later. I refuse to "double-pay" and to me it's wrong that studios don't see it this way. The content is the content - that's what I'm paying for, they should provide it to me in whatever formats I prefer.

depending on price, what content is available and format I would totally do it.

The files will obviously have some kind of DRM but if they are of a decent quality (say using a divx codec and the file size about 1.5 gigs for a 90 minute film) I would be ok with it. If they just want to release another portable file size (ala itunes, psp) I will skip it.

Yeah, I sure would use the service, but it's all dependent upon the amount of money they'll ask. I seldom go to the movies anymore because I'm over thirty and don't get too excited about car chases and sophmoric sex chatter which is what the movie makers offer these days. So I take my money and go to the rental store where deep in the dusty end of the store I can find some of the classics. So if the selections are good and the price is right I like the idea.