Comments on: Editors' Picks: Who will win the online music wars?

Millions are paying to acquire music legally from iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and even Wal-Mart. Now mighty Microsoft has jumped into the game.

[Earl Benser]

Room for All???

This isn't a 'winner-take-all' contest. I have my own concerns
about the quality of WMA files as a useful music format. I have
no confidence in Real Media as a source for anything. But others
do, and Real and MS will benefit from their purchases. Apple is
the dominant music provider with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and
the iPod. Apple will likely remain the leader with its all around
solution.

It is essential that any music system handle the more common
formats, and Apple's does just that. Others had better provide
similar capabilities should they seriously want to compete.

By the way, I don't own an iPod. But my home and car audio
systems do work very well with the MP3 format via iTunes or
CD-ROM. That's all I need for now.

[Earl Benser]

Room for All???

This isn't a 'winner-take-all' contest. I have my own concerns
about the quality of WMA files as a useful music format. I have
no confidence in Real Media as a source for anything. But others
do, and Real and MS will benefit from their purchases. Apple is
the dominant music provider with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and
the iPod. Apple will likely remain the leader with its all around
solution.

It is essential that any music system handle the more common
formats, and Apple's does just that. Others had better provide
similar capabilities should they seriously want to compete.

By the way, I don't own an iPod. But my home and car audio
systems do work very well with the MP3 format via iTunes or
CD-ROM. That's all I need for now.

[Bro.Bob]

Who will win the online music wars

I think we all win after the dust settles its time for the music industry to
pay attention to what people want.
Apple just jumped out ahead everyone for while with a good marketing tool
iPOD!
they thought they where the only game in town then some other big players
moved in like Sony,Real network and now even Microsoft !

I'm independent musician and this is all good news for me.
I may have way better shot at getting my music on line and selling CDs with one of these guys then I ever did with the big record companies!

If I had to say who will win I would say Real networks has good shot at wining the war.
then on the other hand Apple has put millions of dollars in TV adds and bill boards I see the iPOD dancer everywhere I go.
If seeing iPODS all over on every kids head and some adult joggers has got tell you something about this trend in the market!
who would have thought that thousands of Moms and Dads would shell out close to four hundred bucks a pop for this little money making marvel!
I say more power to Apple no matter how long there glory days last!
you know there is always new kid on the block to steal there thunder and take bite out the Apple pie we call America, God bless them all.

Bro.Bob

[Bro.Bob]

Who will win the online music wars

I think we all win after the dust settles its time for the music industry to
pay attention to what people want.
Apple just jumped out ahead everyone for while with a good marketing tool
iPOD!
they thought they where the only game in town then some other big players
moved in like Sony,Real network and now even Microsoft !

I'm independent musician and this is all good news for me.
I may have way better shot at getting my music on line and selling CDs with one of these guys then I ever did with the big record companies!

If I had to say who will win I would say Real networks has good shot at wining the war.
then on the other hand Apple has put millions of dollars in TV adds and bill boards I see the iPOD dancer everywhere I go.
If seeing iPODS all over on every kids head and some adult joggers has got tell you something about this trend in the market!
who would have thought that thousands of Moms and Dads would shell out close to four hundred bucks a pop for this little money making marvel!
I say more power to Apple no matter how long there glory days last!
you know there is always new kid on the block to steal there thunder and take bite out the Apple pie we call America, God bless them all.

Bro.Bob

[avfolk--2008]

Apple has already won.

Apple's ease of use, superb selection, superior compression
(AAC) and grass-roots appeal have already proven themselves,
in acceptance, buzz, and profitability. Microsoft and others may
siphon off some buyers -- but after a while they will tire of the
inevitable 'Microsoft tax'... that added cost adds up -- as many
computer users have come to realize.

Apple will have to innovate to grow -- but that's a core value at
Apple -- not so at Microsoft. Can you say 'Lornhorn'?

Agreed... Apple has already won.

As a former Art Director and graphic artist, I have been aware of the focus Apple has put in regards to creative professionals. Flash ahead about a decade and I find myself an IT Director in a Microsoft house and must admit that MS products help run our enterprise. A world with the MS Server products such as Exchange and productivity apps such as office have defined the workings of many corporations and have became meshed with the very culture of business itself.

Apple still caters to the vast majority of creative professionals, but there is another revolution in the works. iLife has positioned itself as "Microsoft Office for the rest of your life". iTunes provides not only a means to organize, but is part of a complete solution which includes ITMS (music store), iTunes and a seemless integration for their device....the iPod. The iPod is the Sony Walkman of this generation. It is beyond a device: it is a cultural phenomenon.

What's more is Apple is also re-inventing itself as a retail entity. Apple stores are popping up all over the place...remember what happened to The Gap in the early 90s. Headed by the very talented executive from Target, Apple has the potential of being in every mall in America, and every major city abroad.

This is not just a new device for Apple, it represents a fundamental shift in its identity.

[avfolk--2008]

Apple has already won.

Apple's ease of use, superb selection, superior compression
(AAC) and grass-roots appeal have already proven themselves,
in acceptance, buzz, and profitability. Microsoft and others may
siphon off some buyers -- but after a while they will tire of the
inevitable 'Microsoft tax'... that added cost adds up -- as many
computer users have come to realize.

Apple will have to innovate to grow -- but that's a core value at
Apple -- not so at Microsoft. Can you say 'Lornhorn'?

Agreed... Apple has already won.

As a former Art Director and graphic artist, I have been aware of the focus Apple has put in regards to creative professionals. Flash ahead about a decade and I find myself an IT Director in a Microsoft house and must admit that MS products help run our enterprise. A world with the MS Server products such as Exchange and productivity apps such as office have defined the workings of many corporations and have became meshed with the very culture of business itself.

Apple still caters to the vast majority of creative professionals, but there is another revolution in the works. iLife has positioned itself as "Microsoft Office for the rest of your life". iTunes provides not only a means to organize, but is part of a complete solution which includes ITMS (music store), iTunes and a seemless integration for their device....the iPod. The iPod is the Sony Walkman of this generation. It is beyond a device: it is a cultural phenomenon.

What's more is Apple is also re-inventing itself as a retail entity. Apple stores are popping up all over the place...remember what happened to The Gap in the early 90s. Headed by the very talented executive from Target, Apple has the potential of being in every mall in America, and every major city abroad.

This is not just a new device for Apple, it represents a fundamental shift in its identity.

Why the obsession with "winning"?

Apple has already won, in that they have rapidly become a highly
successful (high volume/high visibility & recognition) source for
tunes on the web. There seems to be room for other winners
too.

I'm not sure what this will evolve to, but it's a great development
to this point. I'm spending about the same amount of money on
music, but am getting exactly what I want when I want it. Unless
these tunes have been embedded with some parasite, this is a
great, great thing. ... DAMN, always with the paranoia ...

Why the obsession with "winning"?

Apple has already won, in that they have rapidly become a highly
successful (high volume/high visibility & recognition) source for
tunes on the web. There seems to be room for other winners
too.

I'm not sure what this will evolve to, but it's a great development
to this point. I'm spending about the same amount of money on
music, but am getting exactly what I want when I want it. Unless
these tunes have been embedded with some parasite, this is a
great, great thing. ... DAMN, always with the paranoia ...

[kosmo fenster]

online music wars

with content being particularly similar at every location, it's
going to be about user experience, and so far, it's apple's game
to lose.
the fight will boil down to apple vs MSN, all the others are
sideline players.
jobs and company have done a lot to revive interest in music
with itunes/ipod combo, big challenge for redmond crowd, are
they up to the kind of innovation required, my money says NO!

[kosmo fenster]

online music wars

with content being particularly similar at every location, it's
going to be about user experience, and so far, it's apple's game
to lose.
the fight will boil down to apple vs MSN, all the others are
sideline players.
jobs and company have done a lot to revive interest in music
with itunes/ipod combo, big challenge for redmond crowd, are
they up to the kind of innovation required, my money says NO!