Kelly and I just drove past FYE and they’re running a sale where all CD’s are $9.99.
“About time,” I say, pointing the sign out to Kelly. “They’re finally as cheap as iTunes.”
Kelly sees the sign and says, “$9.99?! We should go in there.”
“Why? It’s the same price as iTunes.”
“Yeah,” reveals my brilliant and beautiful wife, “but at least you own a CD, instead of iTunes just letting you borrow it.”
Dramatic? Perhaps. But think about what it really means for you to “buy” a song from iTunes.
When you buy a song on iTunes you can play it in iTunes or on your iPod. You can’t play it on your Zune or Xbox or Nomad. You can’t play it on your phone unless it’s an iPhone. You can’t play it in WinAmp or Windows Media Player or any program on Linux. Basically you can only use it where and how Apple Computer, Inc. says that you can use it. You can use it only on their devices and software.
It isn’t your song. It’s their song. You didn’t buy it from them at all. You just rented it. If you’re really nice and do what you’re told they might let you use it sometime.
3 comments:
I love that you tagged this "fascism." We have such a love-hate relationship with Apple.
(And don't think I didn't noticed the "brilliant and beautiful wife" compliment. Triple points for you.)
It's my first time using the tags. I thought I'd better get started right.
Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure iTunes was employed by Big Brother in the book 1984.
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