"...music itself shouldn't cost money."

And just how do propose that musicians earn a living, in your utopian society, if their music "shouldn't cost money"?

Jake, did you ride the special bus to school?

Tull, while I don't advocate stealing music, you do (in spite of yourself) raise a good point: P2P.

It's all too easy to get the music for free, DRM-free. Until there is a good, legal, and DRM-free alternative to P2P, many people will download the music for free.

Why can't the major labels understand that? Many of the smaller labels are willing to sell their catalogs as MP3s. Why not the big labels?

Besides, DRM is inherently flawed:

In order for DRM to work, the decryption key (to unlock the music) needs to be sent to the user's system.

LOL! All that DRM does is try to HIDE the key from plain view. That's ALL. It's like trying to stop a burglar from robbing your house, by putting the key under your doormat.

DRM is inherently flawed.

Dimitri

Steve,
You're correct: it is 5 computers, not 3. And you can reset/de-authorize your computers only once a year.

Hmmm... ok...

Then suppose you forget your login password (heaven forbid), and you've changed your email address...
...since your login is dependant upon your email address, if you can't recover your password, you can't authorize your music.

Or, is there reset switch for that too?

Dimitri

Apple's DRM is NOT fair. Here's why:

Apple limits you to ONLY THREE authorized computers... EVER.

What does this mean? Simple:

When you replace your laptop, STRIKE 1.
When your desktop finally crashes, STRIKE 2.
When you upgrade your hard drive: STRIKE 3.

Suddenly, all your paid music will no longer work... ever (even if it's backed up!) iTunes will REFUSE to authorize your music.

Can you imagine buying a CD at the store, and having it stop working, all because you replaced your broken CD player?

THAT, my friends, is what DRM is. And THAT is why it sucks.

Dimitri

Having owned a Sony Librie (which is all the PRS-500 actually is, minus some cosmetic changes and a firmware update) I can't understand the delay either.

I could understand if it was just coming to market, but the Librie has been around for several years.

Dunno...
Dimitri

I can accomplish the same result, with a screwdriver (to open the case) and a few swings of a sledgehammer or pick-axe.

I think you guys are missing the point. Sure it's difficult to enforce, but if it raises awareness of the environmental dangers of improper electronics disposal, that may be enough of an incentive to recycle them.

I never realized that cell phones (and other electronics, like TVs and computer monitors) are full of hazardous substances. I DON'T want that stuff seeping into my children's and grandchildren's environment.

circ wrote: "...they are fantastic in the right situations....Great on the motorcycle..."

Yeah, great for getting yourself killed.

Paramedics have a name for guys like you: organ donors.