CDs versus Downloads: Compare & Contrast
If its Tuesday, then we are talking about Tunes.
The following is a result of a discussion with a friend who has decided to go all digital -- no more polycarbonate discs (CDs). Here's what we nded up with:
Downloads (paid, of course)
Bad
- Inferior quality to CDs
- Little album art or liner notes (iTunes provides a cover shot)
- No disc for permanent storage (but can be burned)
- Online service dictates where the music can be played
- Online CDs cost as much as those purchased in a retail storeGood
- Buy only the wanted tracks
- Make purchase without leaving the house
- MP3 players are small, easy to carry
- 10,000 songs in your pocketCDs (those polycarbonate discs)
Good
- High-quality, uncompressed tracks
- Play them anywhere, on any CD player
- Can be copied to a PC and duplicated for playing in the car, office, etc.Bad
- Forced to buy unwanted tracks
- Price fixing by manufacturers leads to limited retail competition
- Expensive, with over-priced unit costRentals
Good
- Lower upfront costs - $14.95 a month
- Enormous and ever changing selection of musicBad
- Have to pay forever
- Limited as to what devices can play the tracks
>
Sources:
The Big Picture
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/
THE online REPORTER
February 19-25, 2005 - Issue 432
Published weekly by Rider Research
2 Comments:
You mention MP3 players under Downloads, but you don't have to download music to put it on an MP3 player - there's no (good) reason why you can't buy a CD and rip it for use on a portable player.
I think the Compact Disc (CD) will make a triumphant return to the music industry. No one wants to pay .99 cents a song on iTunes. Physical CD's are collectors items and include booklet content that you just can't get from download or iTunes. Downloading off P2p networks is illegal and they will all eventually be shut down, so it is just not worth it to download. That is when CD's will once again rise to the top of what listeners will purchase. These CD's can also be ripped onto iTunes anyways and stored on a portable MP3 mplayer.
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