Matt
10-29-2003, 06:38 PM
Well, the new version of Napster finally launched today and I must say I am quite impressed with it so far (even though I have yet to figure out how to redeem my 5 tracks that I got by pre-registering...but I digress)
The interface is very clean once you get used to it's setup. I like that you can purchase whole albums as well as individual tracks. That is what I have been waiting for (whole cd downloads) and do not understand why the RIAA has dragged their feet for so long. For $9.95/cd it beats a trip to the store to get it. Of course the $0.99/track is nice too for those artists who only have one good song.
I have already purchased a few and downloads have been very fast and seamless. You are allowed to burn an unlmited number of times and can put copies on up to three computers (there is a utility to do this, not the current form of "file sharing" that is being fought). They are in Windows Media format so that is something to consider, although I am fine with that.
The selection is huge, I have found everything I wanted so far.
Now maybe the RIAA will pull thier collective heads out of their asses and realize that the decline in record sales cannot soley be blamed on piracy. People want easy, quick access to music, products such as Napster, I-Tunes, Rhapsody and the like provide that. Now if only they could see the other thing hurting them is crappy music. Let the artists be original without forcing them to conform to the current "popular" genre's of copy-cat sounds.
Well, now that I got my Rant and Rave in the same thread, I guess I am done.
Anyone else used the new Napster? (and if you figured out how to redeem the pre-registration tracks, please share the knowledge!)
The interface is very clean once you get used to it's setup. I like that you can purchase whole albums as well as individual tracks. That is what I have been waiting for (whole cd downloads) and do not understand why the RIAA has dragged their feet for so long. For $9.95/cd it beats a trip to the store to get it. Of course the $0.99/track is nice too for those artists who only have one good song.
I have already purchased a few and downloads have been very fast and seamless. You are allowed to burn an unlmited number of times and can put copies on up to three computers (there is a utility to do this, not the current form of "file sharing" that is being fought). They are in Windows Media format so that is something to consider, although I am fine with that.
The selection is huge, I have found everything I wanted so far.
Now maybe the RIAA will pull thier collective heads out of their asses and realize that the decline in record sales cannot soley be blamed on piracy. People want easy, quick access to music, products such as Napster, I-Tunes, Rhapsody and the like provide that. Now if only they could see the other thing hurting them is crappy music. Let the artists be original without forcing them to conform to the current "popular" genre's of copy-cat sounds.
Well, now that I got my Rant and Rave in the same thread, I guess I am done.
Anyone else used the new Napster? (and if you figured out how to redeem the pre-registration tracks, please share the knowledge!)