Amazon Unbox Reviewer's Comments

Is there anything Amazon cannot do? One of the largest and most popular websites in the world, Amazon.com, continues to explore its boundaries and tread into interesting territory. In late 2006, Amazon released it’s newest venture, Amazon Unbox. A movie download service that allows you to rent and buy the newest Hollywood films and television shows instantly by downloading them to your computer. Despite some early criticism, “TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award” winning movie download service is an easy to use service with a large selection.

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Movie Selection:  

With more than 3000 titles Amazon is one of the larger collections we reviewed. You can rent or purchase films. Rentals start at $2.99 and are $3.99 for new releases. Most titles are $14.99 to buy. Additionally, you can browse their collection without signing up or logging into your Amazon account.

After renting a video the file will remain on your computer for 30 days. After you begin watching the movie you have 24 hours to finish it before your license expires. Purchased videos can be loaded to two computers and two portable devices; however, rented films are only available on one computer.

Amazon Unbox includes a unique feature that allows you to download your selections to TiVo and watch your movies directly through a television. Therefore, you do not have to hook up your computer to your television. Additionally, using Amazon’s RemoteLoad feature you can send a movie to another PC or TiVo. You can order a movie from work and have it downloaded and waiting for you at home.  

Ease of Use of Service:  

Overall, Unbox is an easy to use service with an excellent search box. Our largest complaint with Unbox is that you have to download a separate video player (which isn’t unusual for these services) but while you are downloading the player Amazon tweaks your registry and if you’re not careful it will automatically launch every time you start Windows. When you decide to download the Amazon Unbox video player, we stress that you pay attention to the popups that appear while downloading and read each of them.

We would have also liked Unbox to prompt us when our video was ready to expire. Not exactly a required feature, but a convenient one.  

Help/Support:  

Amazon has an extensive online help section that should answer most of your questions. They also have telephone and email contacts.  

Summary:  

Amazon is a well known and trusted name, and we known their clout will soon make them a serious contender for the one and two spots in the near future.