I know this is a bit off topic but I know I'll receive knowledgeable responses here.

I'm interested in downloading music but I haven't done so since before Napster became a pay-site. Any recommendations? I'm not only intersted in cost (!!!) but in other features that you've found particularly helpful.

Thanks

Try Kazaa. Just make sure and check the box that says "keep others from viewing my shared folder". Either that or dont share files. They are starting to crack down on people downloading copywrited music for free. Click Here

I use kazaa, its like napster was but doesn't cost anything. So just do a search for kazaa or kazaa lite and download it. Kazaa lite doesn't have all the spyware with it.

Just started using Dell w/musicmatch. .99 cents per song and don't have to worry about being sued/fined/jail/ass-raped. Song quality is pre-screened by dell as well. No complaints yet

It's hard to believe that people still want to steal music on the net or (recommend to someone else to do so) in today's day and age.

I can't really tell if you are inferring about illegally downloadable music but I would subscribe to some music services like Napster, Rhapsody, Musicmatch or iTunes. For 99 cents a track I find it very useful and reasonable. Plus you are guaranteed a quality ripped track. No pops, clicks or screeches.

I use iTunes on a regular basis since I purchased an iPod. I haven't had any problems with connection or business practices. Once you create an account which includes inputing your credit card number you are ready to go, you never have to reenter any information again. Just click on the BUY NOW button and iTunes will ask you if you are positive you want to purchase the selected track. Once you confirm the purchase the download process begins. In a few minutes you will also receive an invoice in your email inbox. Very cool.

If you decide to go the illegal route just beware that Kazaa will install numerous trojans on your computer which can aid in the potential of email spam and computer viruses. Something that I am very concerned with.

For the record, Kazaa is not illegal. Legality issues arise when you download copywrited music. But even then your in a gray area. They are only attempting to prosecute those who are SHARING large amounts of copywrited material over the internet. As Malo said, its possible to get a virus from downloading on Kazaa. I recommend using the built in virus update that comes with version 2.6.

Aaron,

C'mon man, I know that the software itself is not illegal. But let's be honest here, what do 99% of the people using it use it for? Have you ever shared legal data with people on that network. Would you use Kazaa to distribute a work document to your other employees? I doubt it.

Even though Kazaa was created with the best of intentions it's main use is for people that want to share illegal copyrighted material with other people. YellowSCX, do yourself a favor and stay away from Kazaa. Just my opinion. Good luck.

For all you Kazaa users...Kazaa SUCKS!!! It's LOADED with Spyware and AdWare. Kazaa Lite is the only Kazaa that is worth sconsidering, but even that sucks next to LimeWire.

www.limewire.com

I've used both Kazaa and Limewire, and in my honest opinion, Limewire is a better search engine overall.

It's not a gray area with regards to copyRIGHTed material. If you have the permission of the copyright owner, it's legal. If you don't, it's illegal, plain and simple.

The gray area I was talking about is the fact that they are only going after people who are sharing the copyrighted material. So as long as your just downloading and not sharing, your safe. For now anyways.

You're an idiot.

I still don't understand how different this is from taping something off of the radio stations. We aren't paying the radio stations, but it's legal to make tapes from them?!?

The radio stations have paid to broadcast the music.
When you download music, you are stealing it, there is no grey area, it's simply theft.

What are peoples opinions of a potential copyright violation when sharing music on a lan when every disk loaded is paid for by someone of the lan? Hypothetically, what if a company supported a music server is on its lan. The employees load music on to it from CD's but there is no connection to the interenet for swapping.

WinMX if you are on a PC. Its the besta nd you get more of a variety than Kazaa. My question to those who BUY cd's; when was the last time you bought a cd and only liked 2-3 of the songs that you paid $19.99 for? Aamazon only gives a 30 second clip of the songs they sell and that doesn't give you a good idea of what is to come. The same can be said about buying used cd's. Where does that money go? They are sold to the record store by someone and then resold to another customer. I bet the eband doesn't see any of that money. This is still a silly argument. If you want to support music, pay the $40.00 like me to go see it live, that's money well spent in my book.

I really like the Google ads being served to this thread

Don't get Sued !

Aero Steve, the company in question would be possibly violating the law by rebroadcasting without a license, or some such thing.

Surfer, the album has been sold once, so everyone already got their profit from it, but by selling it again to someone else, everyone missed out on the profit from a sale of a new copy.

I'd like to have a dollar for every computer I have cleaned of Kazaa's spyware. In many cases the crap that Kazaa downloads to a computer can have it crawling for mercy.

I really like Napster's layout, their plan, and the perseverance to keep it above water. In addition, the Samsung Yepp-910GS portable MP3 player made for Napster is great. Napster's tiered subscriptions are also a nice feature for determining how much music you wish to download (and pay for). Roxio (an EXCELLENT software development company) has stepped out on a limb bringing Napster back, and have done a great job in doing so.

I'm very much in agreement with Ian regarding piracy - having been a musician, and having lots of friends who are, I can tell you its a tough business. Between recording sessions, record labels, promotional costs and management, there is little left for the creators of the entertainment you are stealing. Give them a break - you enjoy what they have created, they should be paid for it. $.99 a song? Doesn't seem a lot to me.

Xhawk

Check this out...

ZDNet

Also, I just heard that WalMart is planning an online music service that will undercut the existing services by 20 cents or so per track.

That's 79 cents a track. BRING IT ON

Best Buy already has an online music download service started. It has a $9 monthly fee(I think) and you can get the software from free from Best Buy. You may want to check that out as well.

Interesting article on ZDNet. Leave it to the Canadians not to understand that if you're downloading a file, someone, somewhere, had to upload it first. As the file is being transfered, it is being uploaded to the pirate.

I've been away from my computer for a couple of days and was pleased to see so many responses.

To be clear, I'm looking for a pay-site because I don't want all of the hassles that come with anything else.

A buddy of mine suggested Limewire, and I looked at Napster, but it seems to me that there must be one out there that is better than the rest - or maybe not.

Thanks again.

I chose Napster because of the name recognition (OK, so it doesn't really matter, but its good to have the oldest, most experienced players backing up the service), ease of use and flexible pricing.

In addition, Roxio's (they bought Napster) software is top-notch.

My suggestion would be to try each in turn for a month, then choose the one you like. My suspicion is that there will be price wars, and many of the players entering the market will go out of it just as quickly. Roxio/Napster should be around about as long as any of them.

Good luck!

It's not even close. iTunes rules.

I use Itunes as well. It's really easy to use.