(legal) music download services??

[exiledNms]

Hey, Gang,
I'm considering subscribing to a music download service, & was seeking feedback from any experienced downloaders. Note: I'm talking about legal services here! I'm leaning toward Rhapsody, just because Comcast is my ISP. Inertia, don't ya know.... Anyway, any clues & suggestions & warnings would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
exiled

 

[mikeua69]

I've heard Napster is good. I think it's $9.99 a month for unlimited downloads. Search the site though to make sure they have the music that you are wanting to listen to.

 

[bilbo@work]

I personally have never paid for downloads, but please choose Napster if you're going to pay as my friend's husband works for them!

 

[bamapride79]

Most ISP's offer you access to newsgroups... You can find anything you
would like on newsgroups. Oh.... you said legal downloads..... :biggrin:

 

[Ldlane]

I use Napster, Wal-mart, Realplayer and Musicmatch. By far the best is Napster for one reason only:

1. You can recover the music that you have downloaded if you crash and don't have your songs backed-up. I believe that you can have your account on up to 5 computers.

My computer crashed and I lost everything that I had downloaded on Musicmatch, realplayer and Wal-mart. My Napster songs were recovered when I re-installed the software.

You can also use those services through plug-ins for MS Mediaplayer. That way you really don't have to download their large programs.

 

[Queasy1]

Don't use Rhapsody under any circumstances whatsoever. My wife and I tried it out when they were first starting because they had music downloads at $0.50. The selection of music was meh but more importantly, the interface was horrible.

iTunes is good if you ever plan on buying an iPod. If you don't plan on buying an iPod though, I wouldn't bother as it isn't compatible with other portable digital music players.

I'm currently using the Microsoft download service via Windows Media Player and have enjoyed it so far. Has worked great with my Dell DJ.

 

[Queasy1]

Most ISP's offer you access to newsgroups... You can find anything you
would like on newsgroups. Oh.... you said legal downloads..... :biggrin:

Good luck finding full and complete binaries though. I'm trying out a newsgroup service right now so I can get the full downloads off of the alt.binaries.hdtv group. Bellsouth had incompletes all over the place.

 

[exiledNms]

Thanks, Gang. My Rhapsody interest had already waned a bit, as the freebie Rhapsody radio--a pretty good package!--somewhat randomly ceased working for me. Still works for both of my kids' desktops on this same computer...but not me.
Anyhoo, thanks again to all for the comments.
exiled

 

[bamapride79]

I'm trying out a newsgroup service right now so I can get the full downloads off of the alt.binaries.hdtv group. Bellsouth had incompletes all over the place.

I used BellSouths newgroups. You have to watch out for incompletes
but I was satisfied with what I found.

 

[Queasy1]

I used BellSouths newgroups. You have to watch out for incompletes
but I was satisfied with what I found.

Yeah, they used to be really good up until about four months ago. They've had issues with incompletes and other things since then.

 

[bayoutider]

I was talking with my son earlier today and don't know why I remembered this thread but I ask if he used any music download services. He told me he uses Limewire. I haven't had time to check it out yet but has anyone used Limewire?

 

[Ldlane]

Limewire is a "Filesharing" program which turns on red lights and that it is maybe also "spyware"!

 

[Stephen323]

I use Limewire as my main filesharing program and it works great. I haven't had any issues with spyware at all. The only thing is that it would not come under a list of what would be considered "legal" services.

 

[bayoutider]

I tried out Limewire last night and it does remind me of the old Napster site. Wonder why Metallica hasn't gone after them yet?

 

[Ldlane]

I tried out Limewire last night and it does remind me of the old Napster site. Wonder why Metallica hasn't gone after them yet?

Breakin' the law, Breakin' the law ......