"Reaction [beta]"
Unbox Unusable? 10 Sep 2006
Following months of speculation (and a series of leaked screenshots), Amazon has finally launched it's video store last week. While many welcome the entrance of Amazon into this market, early reports suggest that the service has one or two user experience flaws.
CNET Reviews' Tom Merritt summarises his experience with Amazon Unbox as follows:
"To be allowed the privilege of purchasing a video that I can't burn to DVD and can't watch on my iPod, I have to allow a program to hijack my start-up and force me to login to uninstall it? No way. Sorry, Amazon. I love a lot of what you do, but I will absolutely not recommend this service. Try again."
Business Week was equally unimpressed, recommending that it's readers stick with DVDs (at least for now):
"Amazon finally launched its long-awaited online video service on Sept. 7. But it's no sure thing that it will catch on with the masses. The service, called Amazon Unbox, offers downloads of movies and television shows, as well as digital movie rentals. But like all its rivals, it's shackled by a raft of viewing limitations imposed by movie studios...Amazon's service, like others, allows a backup DVD of the digital files to be made, but that backup won't play in regular DVD players thanks to digital rights restrictions. A Windows Media Center PC can be cabled to a TV, but only through a relatively low-resolution S-video line."
Update: More commentary from ars technica.
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