amazon instant video

[welbinator]

hey guys I have a question about amazon. The only reason I'm hesitant to start buying digital copies of movies/music is because I'm worried that my computer will crash and I don't feel like buying an external hard drive just to backup my stuff. here's my question. If I buy a movie from amazon, and my computer explodes, will amazon remember that I bought it and let me re-download it? at what point do piracy laws come into play? does amazon even let me download the file or when I "buy" a movie do they just let me stream it whenever I want?

thanks!

 

[mikedt]

hey guys I have a question about amazon. The only reason I'm hesitant to start buying digital copies of movies/music is because I'm worried that my computer will crash and I don't feel like buying an external hard drive just to backup my stuff. here's my question. If I buy a movie from amazon, and my computer explodes, will amazon remember that I bought it and let me re-download it? at what point do piracy laws come into play? does amazon even let me download the file or when I "buy" a movie do they just let me stream it whenever I want?

thanks!

I don't know too much about this particular service, but TBH I would never buy a movie or TV show as a digital download or stream, mainly because of the nasty DRM. I think renting from a service like this ok though because the cost is much lower, you watch it once or twice, and that's it. It's streamed using Flash so should be playable on most computers and OS's.

IMO if one is going to buy a movie or TV show, buy it on DVD or Blu-ray, then it's yours to keep forever, the DRM has long since been cracked, so you can rip and play it on whatever you like and doesn't need an internet connection.

 

[jancat]

Agree with Mikedt. Do everything you can to take control of the things you buy with your money that you earned... right?

 

[jancat]

But not to take away from the OP, it is prudent to find out if they 'remember' your purchase. And it seems common sense says they would have record and let you re-download... there are far too many variables these days to have such a concrete 'one shot, good luck!' policy. However common sense it may seem, never underestimate stupidity.