Netflix is the new iTunes.

Sure, iTunes still has its series of dedicated shoppers who feel the need to pay for music (myself included), but most people have returned to pirating music.

I think the reason for this is that it’s a lot more risk-free than before because the Internet has begun to crack down on illegal movies and television shows instead of music.

This is where Netflix comes in.

I was recently turned onto the site by the DM’s very own opinion editor, Mia Camurati. Of course, I had heard of it, and friends had preached to me its merits, but something always held me back.

Maybe it was being responsible for a monthly bill. Maybe I didn’t realize how much I liked movies. Maybe I was just being lazy and didn’t feel like figuring it out.

But after a quick conversation with Mia, I realized that I had to take the plunge.

Now, for $9 a month, I get unlimited instant watch and one DVD sent to me at a time as often as I can send them back. I’m sorry, Blockbuster, but you really can’t beat that.

Especially when you consider the new edition of “Hulu Plus.” Yes, Hulu will now offer a premium service for $10 a month that has “thousands of extra shows” that free Hulu users can’t access.

I’d rather pay for Netflix than Hulu any day. Not only does Netflix have every movie you could or couldn’t imagine, there are also billions of television shows, many available to watch instantly. I feel like the entire world is at my fingertips.

Maybe that’s why Netflix beats iTunes: there never seems to be anything missing. In iTunes, you pay by the song, there are always artists not represented and songs that are “album only” and not to mention that downloading can take forever.

Not on Netflix.

It streams instantly. I’m not worrying about how much each movie costs. So far, if I want to watch something that’s not on Instant Watch, I can add it to my DVD queue with a click of a button.

It takes easy to a new level.

That’s what’s so great about all of the new technology.

People like to go on about saving the trees and the world. People shout the virtues of “paperless.”

Even my old high school bought Mac laptops for everyone as a means of “going green.”

Of course, they did this the year after I graduated, but I digress.

Let’s be honest. All of these are nice sentiments, but the truth is we like the ease. No papers to file, no trash to take out. All you need is a mouse, a few clicks and you’re through.

That’s the beauty of Netflix.

Movies are at your fi ngertips. Just make sure you drag me away from my computer to actually get some work done. Maybe I’m wrong.

Maybe all of this “ease” just makes our lives harder.