Tech OPINION: Worried About ITunes

There is three distinct steps for a person to become a Apple/Macintosh convert user:

1) Download iTunes for your music library.

2) Buy an iPod.

3) Buy a Macintosh/Apple computer.

Getting a Macintosh/Apple computer is probably one of the best investments you can if you are a power computer user. They are simplier and easier to use. They are much more stable than Windows computers. The main reason for this is that Mac OS X uses UNIX for it's core system.

There was moments that I thought I would convert back to a Windows user, but Macintosh has me for life. It was one of the best consumer decisions I ever made.

However, I feel that since 2009 has started, I think that iTunes has gone down hill. It has to do with iTunes decision to make most if not all of their songs with the 'iTunes Plus' download format.

Here is what that is: ITunes Plus is a format in where the songs are twice the size as regular downloads. Plus it is DRM-free, in where you can give the songs and copy them to friends.

I will be frank and serious here: I HATE iTUNES PLUS. Where I live in West Hanover Twp, there is not DSL connections avaliable. I could go Comcast, but I don't like how big they have become.

I fully believe that iTunes Plus is the biggest rip-off ever to music lovers. Why I believe this is because of the bigger file download. Typically a 1 minute song is 1MB. With iTunes Plus, 1 minute song is 2MB. That means that your hard drive gets filled twice as fast. It is nothing but a horrible money making scheme, all to say 'crystal clear sound'. Yeah right.

When I read Wikipedia this morning about the iTunes store, my fears has become reality. They report that as of January 6, 2009, 80% of the songs on iTunes is iTunes Plus. In April 2009, 100% will be iTunes plus. 100%?! I hope this is a bad early attempt of an April Fools joke, but I don't think so.

Apple, let me be clear. If Apple continue to do this, I will be forced not to use their music store. I don't want that. My music collection is quite impressive. I have close to 4,900 songs on my iPod. From Sinatra to Marlyn Manson ... from Nirvana to Jonas Brothers. If any music station took a chance and put my library on the radio, they would go from last place to first in 6 months. I highly believe in that.

In conclusion, iTunes is making a huge mistake. I don't see any up-side with iTunes Plus. I dare somebody to bring me down on this topic. But, I don't see any.

-- Matt