End Noise

One of the criticisms Microsoft levels at iTunes is lack of choice. They argue in their 'Plays For Sure' campaign that with an iPod, you are locked into the iTunes Digital Music Store when you want to purchase a song. Sure, this is true. If I want to purchase a song online through a digital music store and I have an iPod, then I am limited to iTunes. The problem with this argument is that I really don't care where I get my music as long as I get my music. The fact that with a Microsoft-compatible mp3 player I can choose between Napster.com, MSN Music, Rhapsody, etc., etc., is not very important when I can get the exact same song from iTunes for the exact same price. This ability to choose is meaningless to me. Even if you argue that the experience of the MSN music store is better than the iTunes experience, its still not as if the user is having a bad experience. Microsoft fails to realize that the content is the important part and as long as I can get it, then who cares that I am locked into the iTunes Digital Music Store.

Anyway, if I wanted complete freedom of choice with my music, I'll just buy the CD and rip it into DRM-free mp3's.