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For Netflix customers, it's time to consider buying a better office chair and investing in a nicer monitor; the service that's best known for mailing DVDs will allow many people to view an unlimited amount of video online.

Starting today, only customers who have selected Netflix's $4.99 per month plan (earning them one DVD at a time, and a limit of two every month) are going to be stuck with restrictions.  Otherwise, Netflix appears to be doing everything it can to prepare for Apple's entry into the movie rental market.

"Letting subscribers stream as much as they want could erode Netflix's profits because the Los Gatos-based company isn't raising its monthly rates even though its expenses may rise if increased usage drives up the licensing fees owed to studios," notes Michael Liedtke.

Still, with Blockbuster seemingly on the run (recall recent price increases and an outage), now's a good time for Netflix to grab any market share it can.

All that's left is to see what Apple does at Macworld; pricing will be especially important.  Computers aren't a favorite place to watch movies, so Netflix may have an early advantage.