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CDs versus Downloads: Compare & Contrast

If its Tuesday, then we are talking about Tunes.

The following is a result of a discussion with a friend who has decided to go all digital -- no more polycarbonate discs (CDs). Here's what we nded up with:

Downloads (paid, of course)

Bad
- Inferior quality to CDs
- Little album art or liner notes (iTunes provides a cover shot)
- No disc for permanent storage (but can be burned)
- Online service dictates where the music can be played

Good
- Online CDs cost as much as those purchased in a retail store
- Buy only the wanted tracks
- Make purchase without leaving the house
- MP3 players are small, easy to carry
- 10,000 songs in your pocket

CDs (those polycarbonate discs)

Good
- High-quality, uncompressed tracks
- Play them anywhere, on any CD player
- Can be copied to a PC and duplicated for playing in the car, office, etc.

Bad
- Forced to buy unwanted tracks
- Price fixing by manufacturers leads to limited retail competition
- Expensive, with over-priced unit cost 

Rentals

Good
- Lower upfront costs - $14.95 a month
- Enormous and ever changing selection of music

Bad
- Have to pay forever
- Limited as to what devices can play the tracks

>

Sources:

The Big Picture
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/

THE online REPORTER
February 19-25, 2005 - Issue 432
Published weekly by Rider Research

Tuesday, March 01, 2005 | 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
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Comments

The download era is fortunate to come along at a point when audio playback quality is not as highly prized as it once was. Portability,ease of access,price, and storability have trumped the quest for the perfect sound. Friends who are still into high end sound systems have no interest in compressed digital media. The tiny headphone based technology is a perfect fit for the relatively poor sound quality of streams. Long Linn speakers, Leavinson front end, and California Audio Labs C D transport.

Posted by: rob hone | Mar 1, 2005 9:27:00 AM