Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC |  Amazon Comparison
I believe it was Engadget that had a Top-10 Tracks comparison between iTunes and the Amazon Music Store (256Kbps VBR MP3). The top 10 had the same songs, but the iTunes songs were $1.29 and the Amazon store's were $.99. Things that make you go hmmm. |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:
1 edit | recent CNET fight match between Amazon music store and iTunes had Amazon winning due in part to better pricing.
edit: link »reviews.cnet.com/4370-6454_7-745-101.html |
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Jeffrey
too dark too early
Premium
join:2002-12-24
Dix Hills,NY
clubs:
 ·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Vonage
·magicjack.com
| reply to Matt
said by Matt  :I believe it was Engadget that had a Top-10 Tracks comparison between iTunes and the Amazon Music Store (256Kbps VBR MP3). The top 10 had the same songs, but the iTunes songs were $1.29 and the Amazon store's were $.99. Things that make you go hmmm. I bought the new U2 album from Amazon as my first Amazon music purchase. It was aobut 1/2 the cost of iTunes, and better quality, so I hear.
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"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin
[my ramblings] |
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tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
clubs: | reply to Matt
i'm a BIG fan of the Amazon store. Of course, it helps that it's bundled on my phone... |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
 ·North State Commun..
| reply to Matt
I've been more and more dissatisfied with iTunes (the application itself - it's bloated and ungodly slow) and was surprised to learn of how robust the Amazon store was. Since all my previously purchased iTunes music is unprotected (thanks Requiem!) and all my recent purchases have been iTunes Plus, I may take this opportunity to just use Amazon and Windows Media Player. I've wanted to do that for ages anyway as the iTunes application has always been awful. |
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jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Matt
I use Rhapsody music and a Rhapsody-to-Go mp3 player for most of my music. If necessary, I have methods that allow me to record and permanently save any music that they have, which is lot.
When I stumble across something that I must have that is not available on Rhapsody, I use Amazon. Not for downloading music, but for purchasing CD's or albums. The price of most CD's at Amazon is about $7+$3 shipping for anything new, and even cheaper for used items. I just look for high vendor ratings when grabbing used items. So far I have not been burned with a scratched disc. When I get the CD, all I do is rip it to lossless FLAC and I rarely see the actual CD again. I'm also an Amazon Prime member, so whenever a sale on something I like is going on, I can have it shipped in 2 days for free.
The best thing about Amazon CD's is that they have practically everything. They have all of the Beatles CD's for sale. My latest purchase was Stereolab's "Sound-Dust" CD, that for some reason is never available for download purchase or subscription service play. Including shipping, I got it new for under $10. If you don't mind waiting for it get delivered, I think it is a better option. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| I am so done with CD's. I hate storing them, I hate having to switch them when I want to hear another artist, and I hate waiting on them. 
Regardless, I rarely like an entire CD and won't even consider purchasing one unless I enjoy 50% of the songs off it. Being able to buy the exact song I like is a perfect fit for me. I was a HUGE cassette/CD single purchaser back in the day and I was highly upset when they went away.
On a personal note, I think I gain some warped sense of satisfaction from my purchase reflecting that I will not support filler songs on albums. Too many artists put CRAP on their CDs, then release a single or two that is good. That has been modus operandi for the rap industry for years and has bled across to the rock industry too. It's infuriating. |
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jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| I hear ya. I am usually very selective about any CD I do purchase. If I'm not comfortable about the quality of anything more than a song or two, I take my chances and go for used and cheap (reminds me of a girl I once knew), and this is only when there are no legal download options. And once I do get the CD, like you, I find them annoying at best when compared to newer distribution options in the same way that vinyl albums were a nuisance after CD's became popular. That is why the first thing I do is rip it to a more convenient format. Once I have it in a lossless format on my computer, I can use those files as the "master" for any conversions and distributions.
Music can make a ton of money (even more, I should say), but the industry needs to adapt more efficiently. They need more vision. The problem must be that the people that run the major labels simply do not have any sense of perspective with regards to their typical customers.
Well, I've used 2 sets of parenthesis in one comment, so it must be time for lunch.  |
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biggbrother
Premium
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI
| reply to Matt
Amazon MP3 is great. I had never purchased a song online until I discovered Amazon MP3 when it came bundled on my phone.
But jmn1207 brings up an interesting point. Many digital albums on Amazon cost $9.99. You can buy the entire hardcopy CD and have it shipped to you for around that same price. They should sell the albums cheaper when you purchase it digitally.
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"Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them." -- George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four.
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to Matt
said by Matt :I believe it was Engadget that had a Top-10 Tracks comparison between iTunes and the Amazon Music Store (256Kbps VBR MP3). The top 10 had the same songs, but the iTunes songs were $1.29 and the Amazon store's were $.99. Things that make you go hmmm. I'll stick with Zune Marketplace. Since they use the MS points I only pay $10 to $14(I buy them when they are on sale)for 1600 point instead of the $20 retail price. So everything I purchase with the points costs me less.
Plus I prefer WMA instead of MP3 or AAC. Although the last few downloads I made from the Zune Marketplace was 256kbs MP3. The 192Kbs WMA music sounds noticeably better. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| reply to biggbrother
said by biggbrother :But jmn1207 brings up an interesting point. Many digital albums on Amazon cost $9.99. You can buy the entire hardcopy CD and have it shipped to you for around that same price. They should sell the albums cheaper when you purchase it digitally. I think there is a convenience factor with digital downloads. I (and I'm sure others) will happily pay the same price for a digital download. |
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biggbrother
Premium
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI
| reply to aaronwt
said by aaronwt :I'll stick with Zune Marketplace. Since they use the MS points I only pay $10 to $14(I buy them when they are on sale)for 1600 point instead of the $20 retail price. So everything I purchase with the points costs me less. Wow. Paying more than $10 for an album is too much IMO. Forget about those crazy Borders Bookstore $20 retail prices. Those places are living in the dark ages.
Most outlets know that albums only really move at around $10.
A are those Zune Marketplace files free of DRM?
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"Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them." -- George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four.
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A Beautiful Day
@ameritech.net
| reply to Matt
I finally deleted iTunes from my Mac entirely. Too many issues with it and it seems to constantly be updating something I don't need it for since I don't have any of Apple's iCrap. There are much more efficient and cheaper ways to legitimately acquire music, and the most interesting stuff is never on iTunes anyway. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to Matt
said by Matt :Regardless, I rarely like an entire CD and won't even consider purchasing one unless I enjoy 50% of the songs off it. If you are older and like music from 50's, 60's, 70's, then you get the "BEST OF" compilations of artists, or best of various music genres. Almost every song in the collection were top 10 hits when they 1st came out. I bought an extensive CD collection 15 years ago that way. And then when PC storage got cheap, I transfered all those CD's to my computer, which is wired to the stereo system.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page |
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peter_m
Premium
join:2005-07-13
Canada, QC
3 edits | reply to Matt
said by Matt :I've been more and more dissatisfied with iTunes (the application itself - it's bloated and ungodly slow)... ...I've wanted to do that for ages anyway as the iTunes application has always been awful. It is sometimes slow, specially on low ram, slower CPUs... but AWFUL it is not... iTunes and it's ease of use, it's proper integration with the iPod and the convenience of the iTunes music store have been a big part of the iPod's success... last I checked the iPod is the best selling music player... iTunes works fine!
Been using it for more then 2 years and I've had virtualy no issues. Anyhow, the price chnages in iTunes store are a joke and we are the losers but it has nothing to do with Apple. They sell what the record industry will allow them
to sell.
Peter |
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Ytsejamer1
join:2008-01-18
Somersworth, NH
| reply to Matt
If you rarely like an entire cd and don't find it worth your money to buy, maybe you should look at the artist's your listening to. I mean, you can't expect Booby Spears to put out something like Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' or the Beatles 'Sgt Peppers'. If you are a fan of a particular band, sure some songs stick out more than others, but the rest should be decent enough that you like enough to buy their album. Maybe that's just me...and like you indicated - that strategy works for you.
If I really like an artist, I'll support them by buying the cd. If I don't, I don't buy it...nor do I steal it. But if it's out of print and I can't get it, I will "find" it via blogspot or something.
I too use Amazon to find some stuff out of print or off the radar...it's great when you can find an older cd used for like $1.51 with $3 shipping. Amazon has a treasure trove of stuff in their marketplace. Funny thing is, i like CDs in the car, but at home I enjoy putting on the Media Center with all of my albums ripped. Hmm....not sure why. Old habits die hard I guess. |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to biggbrother
said by biggbrother :said by aaronwt :I'll stick with Zune Marketplace. Since they use the MS points I only pay $10 to $14(I buy them when they are on sale)for 1600 point instead of the $20 retail price. So everything I purchase with the points costs me less. Wow. Paying more than $10 for an album is too much IMO. Forget about those crazy Borders Bookstore $20 retail prices. Those places are living in the dark ages. Most outlets know that albums only really move at around $10. A are those Zune Marketplace files free of DRM? Most albums are around 800 points and I pay between $5 and $7 for 800 points.(1600 points I pay $10 to $14 while the retail price for 1600 points is $20)
I know the last few titles have been DRM free. I don't know if it's always been that way or just started. I've never really looked at it since I just put it on my Zune players and never had any problems doing that. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| reply to peter_m
said by peter_m :said by Matt :I've been more and more dissatisfied with iTunes (the application itself - it's bloated and ungodly slow)... ...I've wanted to do that for ages anyway as the iTunes application has always been awful. It is sometimes slow, specially on low ram, slower CPUs... but AWFUL it is not... iTunes and it's ease of use, it's proper integration with the iPod and the convenience of the iTunes music store have been a big part of the iPod's success... last I checked the iPod is the best selling music player... iTunes works fine! I have a quad-core CPU with 8GB of RAM. The application is bloated and slow. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| reply to Ytsejamer1
said by Ytsejamer1 :If you rarely like an entire cd and don't find it worth your money to buy, maybe you should look at the artist's your listening to. I mean, you can't expect Booby Spears to put out something like Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' or the Beatles 'Sgt Peppers'. Sorry, the artists I do enjoy enough to buy the whole CD don't put out a new one every other week. It's been 2-3 years since Tool put out their last one, but I hear they are working on a new one.
I like a LOT of music, but rarely like an entire CD. |
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