I think the thing that people fail to realize is that the major labels are complicit in DRM; they would not make music available digitally without it. Apple benefits because people are tied to their system, but most people didn't choose ipods because of the file format, it's because the job Apple did building and marketing them.

There are two things that make the ipod a tough competitor. #1 is the tie in with iTunes and the proprietary DRM. This is something that can potentially be overcome because consumers don't care about DRM. #2 is the extensability of the iPod. Not only does the iPod have a great interface, it works with a myriad of speaker systems, car stereos, home stereos, home theater systems, etc. This makes the ipod more valuable than other wannabes.

If Microsoft is to be successful, it will have to provide the same sort of options as the ipod has, both as a unit and through third party accessories. But this won't happen immediately - if at all. Microsoft doesn't have a history of working well with third parties - it's what makes Internet Explorer such a crap browser compared to Firefox.

What MS needs to learn is that with MP3 players, it's not just about the music.

Nice points. I really think what digital and the Internet has done to the record industry is show people that there are much greater options out there than what the big labels presented. It also emboldened artists to go it alone because they reach a significant audience without the channels that the labels controlled.

I buy a lot of music. Because of sites such as eMusic and CDBaby, I'd say 90% of it is from "independent" artists. 5 years ago that number was probably reversed. That's what the labels are fighting against.

I understand the objections to DRM on music you've paid for, but these kids are being offered free access to music and they're are opting to steal it instead. You're picking the wrong situation to bash DRM. Please give me your alternative - free music to college students, no strings attached?

Agreed. I would hazard a guess that 95% of conversations had while driving are unecessary anyway. Add to the fact that there are simply more drive talkers than drunk drivers and that it cuts across all segments to included teens, distracted parents, the elderly, etc. makes it a bigger problem.