>> I would comment that it is likely Napster actually increases CD sales.

>I rather highly doubt that.  I work with a lot of people who buy lots of
>music, and have a son who's a CS major in college and lives in the "geek
>dorm".  A fair number of them no longer buy CDs at all, other than blank
>CDR media.  Some do listen to tracks from Napster and then go buy the CD,
>but it seems quite a bit less common than burning entire CDs straight from
>downloaded tracks (or those ripped from classmates' CDs).

We all know that starving students are likely to save money this way, but
how about us adults who actually pay for stuff? Instead of lumping everyone
who has downloaded an mp3 into the category of criminal, why not give
people the benefit of the doubt.

Unless you like the crap on radio or TV, it's very hard to find new music
without sampling mp3's(unless you have friends with similar tastes who buy
lots of music).

BTW, the home taping act recognizes that people copy music for friends and
it is OK. And those tapes sound better than 128kbps mp3's, and take less
time to make than downloading(unless you have a fast connection, which I
don't). When I was in school I made a lot of tapes(some of them 8-track
cartridges!), and bought some records too.

I hope I haven't broken any of James's rules with my accusatory tone and
use of the word "crap". If so, I'll consider myself having already received
"first warning" and return to my cave.

Cheerful regards,

Bob Blick

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