purchasing music via download

[ryberg]

Don't know why it took my so long to do it, given my long-time status as a Mac user, my interest in music, and the fact that I finally got an iPod about a year ago, but I have finally ventured into the world of purchasing music via download. As a sort of road test, I deliberately chose a song I know I like, Carlos Vives' excellent Fruta Fresca from his Amor de Mi Tierra, to replace the same damaged track on my copy of the CD. A few easy minutes navigating the Apple music store and alerting them to my account status and the song was downloading. I now have it in my iTunes library in an m4a file with a bit rate of 128, pretty good for mp4. (Well, it's actually an m4p file, the 'p' presumably being to reflect its protected status.) Just listened to it with the headphones on and it sounds fine.

I'm sure to some of you this will all be old hat, but I began to wonder, to how many? If it took me this long to get around to buying this way, despite a lot of indicators that it probably should not have, how many folks out there are doing it? Thus the poll, just for the sake of satisfying my curiosity.

Steve

[tommy]

I just bought a cd off of Itunes...

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by tommy

I just bought a cd off of Itunes...

Wow -- guess the post goes up separately from the poll, huh? Because I only just submitted the poll and boom, you were there! Make sure and vote.

Ah, and what did you buy? I forgot to mention that I was mildly surprised to see that the album I mentioned as well as some others were not available in their entirety. I'd think that unless it was some kind of collection or something, either the whole thing or nothing would be available, but not part...

Steve

[mckinzie]

I'm still using 8 track. What gives. :p

[james]

Originally Posted by ryberg

... download. As a sort of road test, I deliberately chose a song I know I like, Carlos Vives' excellent Fruta Fresca from his Amor de Mi Tierra, to replace the same damaged track on my copy of the CD.

if you've already purchased it, then you can grab the whole thing with this.

[Kellyk]

Originally Posted by mckinzie

I'm still using 8 track. What gives. :p

Technically challenged here. Don't have an ipod, wouldn't know how to use it. I actually have an album collection and two record players! I'm amazed that I can even get on-line and post like I do.

[vacationstar]

I'm with KellyK. Technically challeged. I do have a Zen micro and have ripped my CD's and downloaded them. So I should be able to do this I would think. Just need time to play with it I suppose.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by james

if you've already purchased it, then you can grab the whole thing with this.

Thanks. Not quite getting it. The idea at least in this case is that if I already legally purchased the music file in question (when I purchased my CD originally, I mean), I can register with them however they request and legitimately replace the file in question for free?

Steve

[ryberg]

Oh, that site is funny. Wouldn't you know Swedes would be behind it?

They evidently spend some considerable effort defending themselves and publishing their defenses, one of which reads (in response to some kind of lawyer's letter for DreamWorks mentioning the DMCA [Digital Millennium Copyright Act]):

As you may or may not be aware, Sweden is not a state in the United States of America. Sweden is a country in northern Europe. Unless you figured it out by now, US law does not apply here. For your information, no Swedish law is being violated.

Steve RYBERG (he of the Swedish grandfather)

[Joana]

Erm....used to download a lot when I was broke- but from "other" sites....if you know what I mean. Don't do it anymore though- as it is nice to have the originals and you can also copy those into files.

[james]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Thanks. Not quite getting it. The idea at least in this case is that if I already legally purchased the music file in question (when I purchased my CD originally, I mean), I can register with them however they request and legitimately replace the file in question for free?

Steve

you bought a license to that music, so you are entitled to a working copy. that link will get you to a copy. no, you don't need to register, just have a bit torrent client (like Azureus) and grab the torrent file (a "pointer" file that identifies it within the torrent network, so to speak), then you'll have the album very soon afterwards.

I am downloading from iTunes right now, as we speak (post). Downloading Leela James. Take a listen if you can, she is an amazing soul/r&b artist.

Hubby has asked me to download some old Teena Marie for him too...that is next.

Ever since I got my iPod, I have packed up all of my CD's and put them in storage. Have the Bose sound dock too, as well as the iTrip for the car and a Griffin connector for our surround sound. Love this stuff!

I think we have all of the latest techno-gadgets in this house in terms of electronics. (digital cameras, iPods, blackberry-like smart phones, surround sound, plasma tv, TiVo, the list goes on, and on, and on.... ) We are a marketers dream!!

Using them is another matter. Still a bit slow to learn, but getting it all thru trial and error.

I've downloaded a few individual tunes I got gratis from itunes, and then just bought a whole CD I've had problems finding (Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign). I don't like the format itunes uses, so I may start using another service I don't have to convert to burn onto a CD.

Dave

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by james

you bought a license to that music, so you are entitled to a working copy. that link will get you to a copy. no, you don't need to register, just have a bit torrent client (like Azureus) and grab the torrent file (a "pointer" file that identifies it within the torrent network, so to speak), then you'll have the album very soon afterwards.

Thanks, James. I later thought that that's probably what you meant, just got boggled a bit by lack of familiarity with that site.

Originally Posted by DenverDave

I've downloaded a few individual tunes I got gratis from itunes, and then just bought a whole CD I've had problems finding (Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign). I don't like the format itunes uses, so I may start using another service I don't have to convert to burn onto a CD.

Why would you have to convert? You mean in order to use it on a regular CD player, as opposed to ones that play other music formats? Or maybe yours handles mp3 but not mp4 (m4a/m4p)?

Steve

I subscribe to Napster @ $15.00, a month ,so i guess I rent my music.I don't mind because I download about 15 cd's a month onto my mp3 player and when I get bored I switch them..If I want to keep something I pay for it,but I love to check out music without actually buying it.