iTunes vs Napster

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Level 1

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iTunes vs Napster

I been a subscriber of Napster since it came back up. I can listen to all the songs I want, in their entirety, then download and pay if I want them. I do pay a monthly fee but it is worth it. They do offer, for a monthly fee, all the downloaded songs you want to a portable music player without paying 99 cents a song, which I was looking forward to.

Unfortunately, my son gave me an IPod Nano for Christmas. Since IPod does not work with Napster, I have to use ITunes. So far I do not like the ITunes setup. You can only listen for 30 seconds of a song which isn't always enough. You have to pay for every download. And you can't share between computers that are not on the same network. You can do all of this with Napster. ITunes does not seem to have any contact information other than song requests so I cannot get any questions answered. Like why they don't offer a subscription service, etc.

I am not at all impressed with ITunes and don't see the big deal about it except that they have a captive market with the IPod's.

I want to use the gift my son gave me after he spent the money on it but I am leaning towards getting a model that will work with Napster.

Can anyone convince me that ITunes is better?

IPod Nano 4 GB

Posted on Dec 28, 2005 8:04 AM

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Answer 1

hudgie

Level 7

26,410 points

Dec 28, 2005 8:37 AM in response to jgreg

Well, the iTunes model isn't for everyone. iTunes doesn't offer subscriptions. Some people like them, some don't. You seem to be used to it, and are enjoying the Napster style service.

If that's the case, then iTunes just isn't going to do it for you.

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Answer 2

mduser63

Level 2

480 points

Dec 28, 2005 9:32 AM in response to jgreg

I'm not going to try to convince you that iTunes is better, because that's really a matter of opinion. If you like Napster better, then perhaps the best choice is to buy a Napster-compatible music player. My opinion is that iTunes is much better than Napster and other subscription based services. I'd rather be able to keep the music I download. Also, I don't spend $15/month on iTunes, so it's cheaper for me. I like the fact that I don't have to spend money on iTunes every month, I can spend as little (or as much) as I want. Also, as a music library organizer, iTunes beats everything else out there hands down. Finally, the iPod is overall my favorite portable music player of those on the market, so even if iTunes weren't my favorite, I would seriously consider using it in order to use an iPod.

Of course all of these things are my opinion, and are hardly objective, so anyone is entitled to disagree. I'd just say give iTunes and the iPod a fair shot for a couple days and if you still don't like them, take your nano back and get an iRiver or a Samsung or something.

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Answer 3

Dec 28, 2005 10:51 AM in response to jgreg

About sharing--you can authorize up to five computers to play your iTunes-purchased songs. They don't have to be on the same network.

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Answer 4

Rachyl

Level 4

2,135 points

Dec 28, 2005 10:56 AM in response to SpaceMonkey

Yeah, I really like that feature also.

I agree with the other poster, I probably only buy a handful of songs a month, sometimes none at all. So, a 15 dollar subscription would be a waste to me. I already own literally hundreds upon hundreds of CD's so there is not much out there anymore that I want that I do not own.

I do not know if iTunes will ever do the subscription fees. I believe due to their current contract with these recording companies, etc, it will remain this way for a while.

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