P2P Legal Defense Fund

[Xade]

Alright, okay. Let me put it like this: with regards to full albums why download them if you can buy them on hard CD?

Let's face it downloaded MP3s are not CD quality, and can be pirated relatively easily with know-how. I mean all you need to do is play the damn song and record soundcard output (some copy protection ?!). If anything legal MP3s will be more detrimental to the record industry than not offering them at all.

Furthermore, mp3s are restricted to computers and (nasty) mp3 stereos, whereas the compact disc is more user-friendly, EASIER to copy-protect and is CHEAPER in terms of whole albums.

So why the big fuss over MP3s being sold? It's a waste of time...

 

[Clements]

The truth is that people regularly pirate literally thousands of pounds worth of Albums off P2P networks (my uncle boasts that he has the entire top 10 at almost any given time) and all it costs them is ~30p per disc, the quality difference can only be detected by bats, takes minutes to download on broadband to download a whole album and it is in fact very easy to burn mp3s to CDs and make them work in most CD players. You can even download the Album covers and print them off.

People would probably rather download an album in next to no time at all for free than pay £14.99 for it given the choice. I can't see how buying an Album can be cheaper than pirating. I don't care for music much so I have no opinion.

 

[smegforbrain]

It's a simple fact that, regardless of how it's done, people are actually willing to pay for music.

As hard as that is to believe.

CD's take space, and as time goes by, space becomes more of a commodity. That is why mp3s are so great - I can store thousands of them in the space of what 2-3 cd cases take. And I don't have to change cd's, the sound quality is good enough for me.

Places like Yahoo are offering "games on demand" , where you download the games you want to play. It's a great concept for those that have broadband - I'm sure the ability to rent movies this way could take off before long as well.

Ebooks are going to become more popular as time goes by as well. Hell, my book collection takes up more space than anything else in my apartment (I have some 500-odd paperback novels). Some day, I may just decide that having it all in ebook format is the way to go.

 

[Xade]

I wasn't arguing that buying CDs was cheaper than pirating mp3s, but it is comparable to BUYING albums on mp3 when the most I pay for my albums is £8.99, and usually £5.99.

In any case, I don't think that you're going to impress many people with your 'big' mp3 collection in comparison to the guy who has 1,200 proper albums.

And CDs take up practically no space, and do not warrant choosing mp3s over them because of this reason (unless you live in some miniature septic tank or something).

Plus quality, plus packaging, plus compatibility. Buying CDs will ALWAYS be a better option than buying mp3 albums on iTunes or something...

 

[smegforbrain]

In any case, I don't think that you're going to impress many people with your 'big' mp3 collection in comparison to the guy who has 1,200 proper albums.

Probably not. But I never said that's the purpose of a large mp3 collection either. It's convenience, it's cheaper, etc.

And CDs take up practically no space, and do not warrant choosing mp3s over them because of this reason (unless you live in some miniature septic tank or something).

Practically no space? Try sitting a few hundred of them around and see how much space they take up. It does add up.

I mean, in a week, I'm flying out to Hawaii on vacation for a week. 8 hour trip. I can take a few dozen cd's in a case that I'll have to dig through everytime I want to listen to something different.

Or I could have an iPod.

No, I don't own an iPod, but the convenience of having it is immense.

Plus quality, plus packaging, plus compatibility.

Quality is arguable, not everybody is into packaging, and alot of new cd players can play mp3s or burned cd's. You're not going to win the argument on these merits.

Buying CDs will ALWAYS be a better option than buying mp3 albums on iTunes or something...

For you it may be. But not for alot of other people.

Listen man, stores are already going out of business because they can't compete with online stores.
Tower Records recently filed for Chapter 11 iirc. CD's take space in a store, and more space in warehouses.

But with an mp3, you just need one copy of the song. You can fit a warehouse of cd's onto a single server.
It's the future of music whether you like it or not.

 

[Xade]

If we're talking about portability, granted mp3 and the iPod rules the school; hell I OWN ONE. But having mp3 as the source medium instead of compact disc is soul-less.

Furthemore, you're VASTLY limited as to how many mp3 albums you can buy online, and THAT is irrefutable. How many 60's rarities are ready and waiting to be bought online? Verrrrrrrry few indeeeeed. And how much would these albums cost should you come across them? A great deal.

Now, consider the *cunning* idea of buying CDs and converting them to mp3 for your iPod, while retaining the cd itself. That way you have the CD and the lovely mp3 to put on your iPod. Or whatever. You can even put the CDs in a trunk when you're done with them if you're that space-frenzied.

The mp3s you convert to are NOT copy or ID limited, and you have both an mp3 and cd for the price of the CD. Amazing...................

In any case, try telling any major label to ditch CDs for mp3 and you'll get laughed to in the face, or punched, or worse. Legal mp3 right now is pointless and a joke.

Face it: why pay the SAME for one set of restricted mp3s when you can buy the compact disc for the same price? Answer that.

Incidentally, Tower are only having trouble because of their own fucking bloated prices. HMV in England may give a different side of the coin.

 

[smegforbrain]

But having mp3 as the source medium instead of compact disc is soul-less.

Generally, I agree with you - I prefer hard copy just for the sake of having a hard copy.

Furthemore, you're VASTLY limited as to how many mp3 albums you can buy online, and THAT is irrefutable.

But what you're talking about what is still emerging technology. Your argument won't hold up in the long run as more and more artists, new and old, put their music online.

The mp3s you convert to are NOT copy or ID limited, and you have both an mp3 and cd for the price of the CD. Amazing

Not really when you consider that the average price per album online is still around $10, while in stores it is in excess of $15.

So that means I can buy 3 albums online for every two in stores.

In any case, try telling any major label to ditch CDs for mp3 and you'll get laughed to in the face, or punched, or worse. Legal mp3 right now is pointless and a joke.

For starters, iTunes doesn't use mp3s.

Two, these companies are waking up to the fact that they are the ones that have been beaten senseless.

Nobody is ditching cd's for mp3s any time soon, but it will happen over time.

Face it: why pay the SAME for one set of restricted mp3s when you can buy the compact disc for the same price? Answer that.

See above. You're not using facts.

Facts: mp3s/other online services cut overhead, they cut production costs, and the cut the necessity for storage and warehousing.

Incidentally, Tower are only having trouble because of their own fucking bloated prices.

The same bloating prices that the RIAA forces upon them to be able to make money and stay in business.

Tower Records can buy half a million of Album X. Wal-Mart can buy 2 million of Album X, and therefore save that much more money and still be able to charge somewhat cheaper prices.

All in all, until cd prices hover around the $10 range, online albums will be cheaper.

 

[smegforbrain]

Btw, unless we move away from the "my opinion is fact" stuff, I'm done with this conversation, as I believe I've sufficiently made my point(s) already.

Opinion: CD is better than mp3.
Fact: iTunes is cheaper than your average music store. Your average music store has a better selection than iTunes (although there are more services than just iTunes available as well).

 

[AlphaWolf]

Opinion: CD is better than mp3.

That is not an opinion at all. It is a fact that MP3 is a lossy audio codec, it is not true to the original copy and some people, myself included, can quite well hear the difference. Although most don't notice the difference, MP3 sounds like crap compared to the original to me (comparable to that of a cassette tape,) and its the main reason I don't use P2P networks. Sure its ok to listen to, but if I pay for music, I don't want it to sound like its coming from 70's technology. If they offered it in a lossless audio codec, that would sure be nice.

 

[Vegetable]

Funny how things go off-topic so quickly.