is iTunes -really- the best?

[richcorsair]

Hello!

Do you guys feel that iTunes is really the best value in terms of music

downloads for your iPod? I have seen some advertisments on certain iPod

Accessories websites that sell headphones and earphones for other companies,

that also offer things similiar to the iTunes main features. I Mainly have my

cd's on my device at this time, so im deciding where to purchase more music

online.

Do any of you use iTunes and other sites?

The ones you use the most, what would you say is best about them?

Thanks alot!

[chris]

Hello!

Do you guys feel that iTunes is really the best value in terms of music

downloads for your iPod? I have seen some advertisments on certain iPod

Accessories websites that sell headphones and earphones for other companies,

that also offer things similiar to the iTunes main features. I Mainly have my

cd's on my device at this time, so im deciding where to purchase more music

online.

Do any of you use iTunes and other sites?

The ones you use the most, what would you say is best about them?

Thanks alot!

Every so often I'll buy music from Amazon MP3. They offer some great deals. Just last week I picked up U2's new album for $3.99. I probably would not have bought that album, but hard to refuse at that price. The process of downloading is a bit convoluted, but worth it in some cases. Hard to beat iTunes for combination of convenience, price and selection.

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

I also use www.mp3panda.com

[styfle]

I have never spent any money in the iTunes store. In fact, iTunes does not have any of my payment information ;). My account is so old that when I made it, payment info wasnt required.

Although I don't like the music store, iTunes as a music organizer is by far the best.

[danipoak]

I have never spent any money in the iTunes store. In fact, iTunes does not have any of my payment information ;). My account is so old that when I made it, payment info wasnt required.

Although I don't like the music store, iTunes as a music organizer is by far the best.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one. iTunes is a buggy, unstable, slow piece of junk software. I have less problems with it than WMP but it doesn't take much to be better than WMP. I loathe iTunes and if it wasn't for the trouble I've had integrating my phone and iPod with other software I'd switch in a heartbeat!

[drumthrasher109]

If I were to buy my music, it probably wouldn't be from iTunes. I don't like AAC (M4A) very much...

[macgirl]

I have been purchasing music from the iTunes store for years, starting when I got my first iPod years ago. I've tried other music services, but I stay with iTunes now because they now offer DRM-free music, it's encoded at a higher bitrate (256kbps), and I'm fine with their prices. I've purchased music from Amazon before, but find it less convenient to find music. I've also used eMusic before, and it's even less convenient to find music on their site. So, iTunes remains my preferred digital music store.

[acosmichippo]

i stick with CDs unless there's an iTunes exclusive album or EP i want... in which case it won't be in any other digital music store.

[richcorsair]

the CD seems to be a better quality, than what you would download.

I put alot of my Aphex Twin on iPod, and it sounds great. I have also downloaded some aphex twin and you miss alot of the little electronic nuances that you would hear form a CD in your vehicle.

[acosmichippo]

exactly. If i have the CD, i can encode the music into any format i desire without having to worry about DRMs or any of that BS. And i have a permanent hard-copy.

And i just like having CDs. I like displaying them on my shelves, and looking at the covers and notes.

[Bilal]

I like to buy physical cds. Where i know I am the rightful owner.

[Cantwait4iPhone]

Every so often I'll buy music from Amazon MP3. They offer some great deals. Just last week I picked up U2's new album for $3.99. I probably would not have bought that album, but hard to refuse at that price. The process of downloading is a bit convoluted, but worth it in some cases. Hard to beat iTunes for combination of convenience, price and selection.

Haha that's funny, I noticed the U2 deal right as I was downloading from iTunes. That was pretty unlucky. I agree though, Amazon MP3 is pretty nice to use and it has some decent prices.

For the most part, I'll use iTunes. As far as ease of use and overall value go, buying an album from iTunes isn't gonna be beaten unless you already have the CD to upload.