To Buy CDs or Download Music

[James Fee]

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/590/ed_bott_also

"Ed is out with another very insightful piece this morning regarding why he also prefers purchasing actual CDs to online music downloads. It's interesting by the way to see CNET News today pick up on Ed's Kazaa post from a few days ago. In his analysis, Ed examines the various online retailers and finds different problems with each of them. Either they won't let you re-download a track once you've purchased it (you can always re-burn from a CD if you buy it), the bit rates are too low, or the costs really aren't that much of a bargain."

I'm a "ripper" myself since I don't think there is a DRM format yet that makes me comfortable to shell out even $0.79 per track. I do buy used whenever I can, but for how much longer. If the RIAA can sue dead people, how much longer until they put my local music store out of business.

[James Fee]

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/590/ed_bott_also

"Ed is out with another very insightful piece this morning regarding why he also prefers purchasing actual CDs to online music downloads. It's interesting by the way to see CNET News today pick up on Ed's Kazaa post from a few days ago. In his analysis, Ed examines the various online retailers and finds different problems with each of them. Either they won't let you re-download a track once you've purchased it (you can always re-burn from a CD if you buy it), the bit rates are too low, or the costs really aren't that much of a bargain."

I'm a "ripper" myself since I don't think there is a DRM format yet that makes me comfortable to shell out even $0.79 per track. I do buy used whenever I can, but for how much longer. If the RIAA can sue dead people, how much longer until they put my local music store out of business.

[sub_tex]

Great article.

It's my thoughts EXACTLY.

eMusic and AllofMP3 are the only 2 sites I would use for music downloads. At least there I can choose nice high quality Oggs to boot.

A physical CD is still unbeatable, though. Total control over my music. No hassles.

Well worth the extra buck or two extra.

[Phoenix]

I won't buy anything online, although I'd like to be able to. But currently, I won't invest in what could amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time on file formats and bitrates that may sound like crap with great headphones, or may not be compatible with most devices. iTunes would be the best example of this.

For me, ripping CDs and having the power to convert that content to whatever format and bitrate I choose (and is best for me), is the only way to go. That's future proof because not only are CDs not going to disappear anytime soon, but no matter how encoding technologies develop, there will always be a way to rip and encode your own CDs to whatever supported formats exist.

I wouldn't say that online stores are in their infancy, but they have a LOT of growing up to do. IMO, they just aren't ready for primetime - too many things to iron out.

It makes more sense to me right now to join a record club like BMG Music and do my own thing.