Comments on: Westerberg on Amazon: an exercise in frustration

Amazon seems to be going out of its way to make it as hard as possible to buy the new Paul Westerberg album.

[jwmpc]

If your using a Mac, you are required to disable your firewall to enable the downloading process. It's one reason why I don't download much from Amazon.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Never had a problem using Amazon. And many Baroque music DL`s gave me like forty music tracks for less than ten dollars. I love Amazon and steer other people AWAY from Mr Whipple`s i-Lock-You-In-Tunes.

[SteamChip]

Matt?s Amazon download is a reminder of why it?s so tragic when one has to reformat their computer for one reason or another. Matt installed and configured at least one piece of software and perhaps more in order to get his Amazon music. There can be numerous small programs and configurations set up to do a specific task that are user installed on any given machine that many people don?t think about..

If he had to reformat his machine because a virus struck or he just wanted a bigger primary HD, he would have to start this process all over again.

[beekface]

This is a pretty bogus complaint. I think your experience was unique. I've had not problems with Amazon's 1-Click method and I've also downloaded 49:00. Yes, it's a bummer that you have to install software, but it's not nearly as demanding as iTunes. And Amazon's clear, fast previews and excellent daily deals probably makes it the best (legitimate) way to get digital music today. The real tragedy is that you use iTunes at all.

[helroth]

You can tell how well Apple's doing by the speed at which the haters come out.

I'm glad you like Amazon. Just remember, there would be no Amazon downloads if not for Apple and iTunes. It was Apple that got the record companies to "experiment" with downloads at a reasonable price; it was Apple that kept prices low when the record companies were demanding price raises; and it was Apple that first offered DRM-free music (though only EMI, and later some independents, would allow it). The only reason Warners, Universal and Sony would give DRM-free music to Amazon was to try to weaken iTunes. Those companies still won't allow iTunes to sell DRM-free music.

If iTunes goes away, what do you think happens to these 89¢-99¢ digital downloads of Amazon?

So enjoy your Amazon, and keep throwing the hate at Apple.