On Sat, 21 Apr 2001, Bob Blick wrote:

> >> 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.

I don't lump anyone into any category, Bob.  And I don't spend anything on
CDs compared to a dorm full of 18 to 22 year old geeks who live and
breathe music you can't hear on the radio.  I personally know of far more
"starving" students (hah!) with extensive CD collections that I do people
of your age or mine.  I personally don't care how many MP3s you download,
I was simply observing that claiming Napster was increasing CD sales was a
bit of a stretch to say the least.  If you buy more because of Napster and
Napster-like services, great.  I can point you to a hundred or two who buy
significantly less than they did before.  In short, you're a nice guy,
Bob, but I suspect you're statistcally insignificant.  <grin>

> 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).

I dunno, I like some of the crap on the radio - just not much of it that's
new, and nearly nothing on TV.  I do know you can go to most music stores
and listen to CDs before you buy them.  I'd never buy a bagpipe CD without
listening first.

Dale
---
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new
discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."
                -- Isaac Asimov

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