Amazon.com Includes Linux Users in New Movie Streaming Service

Linux users have long searched for a way to legally watch premium movies on their computers with little luck. Netflix, Cinemanow, (and the now bankrupt Blockbuster) strictly forbid anything other than Windows or Mac systems. Even local video rentals or delivery services require the use of software that isn't legal in the US. Well, Amazon.com has come to the rescue by allowing the streaming of recent premium movies to Linux machines.

The Amazon Instant Video store doesn't have quite the selection of Netflix just yet, but does it matter what Netflix has since they exclude the small portion of Linux users? Amazon carries thousands of movies and television shows for their Prime service subscription rate of $79.00 per year or on a per-view basis. Some of their newest movies include the Oscar nominated The Social Network, Inception, Paranormal Activity 2, Unstoppable, and Red. They offer older popular movies as well. You can watch episodes of your TV shows as well, such as Glee, 30 Rock, Warehouse 13, Gilmore Girls, and True Blood. Most a la carte streaming movie rentals cost $2.99 and $3.99. Right now Amazon is running a one month free trial of their two-day shipping Prime subscription plan.

Most experts don't believe Amazon's video service will put much of a dent into Netflix's bottom line, but it might see a few new Linux users. Their system requirements are an Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz processor or equivalent, Firefox 1.5 or above, the most recent versions of JavaScript and Adobe Flash Player, and a broadband Internet connection. Amazon does offer an off-line video player that does require Windows, but it's the streaming that counts. (Roku, Sony, and TiVo owners can also access Amazon's library.)

Finally, a company that doesn't discriminate against the humble Linux minority. How refreshing is that?