Here's something else...

After sitting unopened for six months, I finally used an IPod I was given as a promotional gift. It's a 1G shuffle. $50.00? I don't know.

This is the real problem with downloads, music, digital copyrights, software, and all the crappy technology out there: Just like everything else since the rise of Microsoft, the end-game is to try to capitalize on something desireable or essential in order to leverage a broader market. The consumer gets hijacked into accepting a bunch of crap. I stuck the IPod in the USB. It told me I had to install the "software". Wary of what these scumbags do, I tried to opt for the "custom" install, to try and avoid unnecessary files. No way. In order to use the IPod, I get stuck with Itunes. I don't want Itunes. I don't want their lousy music store. I certainly didn't want QuickTime to overwrite my OS defaults. But it did. You want computer problems, let QuickTime, Media Player, and Real Player get into a knife fight over your OS. Now, I have to clean all the traces (they won't let you completely get rid of them) of QuickTime off my computer. This process corrupts my browser and imbedded video content. More cleaning. Oops. You cannot run the IPod without the QuickTime software. It is bundled and is "essential" to access your IPod. Jeez.... Sorry, but these are greedy, heavy-handed, dishonest b*st*rds. It is an unfortunately common vein that runs through "tech".

Now. I am going to "purchase" a bunch of music from these people? All I get is an encrypted data file and their pledge not to change the ground rules or otherwise screw me over in the future. No disc? No tape? No actual product? Nothing I can actually "play" in any way? No way. No way in hell. I smell the ol' tech bait-and-switch. Just wait 'til Apple gets to deny you an "upgrade" and gets to shut down your stereo. Just like your "obsolete" Windows PC. Get in bed with these people and prepare to be fleeced. If I pay for something, I want to actually have it. I want to be able to use it. I want to be able to keep it. Such arrangements went away in 1998.

Given the choices available, stealing digital music from the internet is probably the most honest transaction going on.

I actually enjoy the heck out of that little IPod, it is a saviour on airplanes. Great product.

jocko