Killing the Music Experience
I cannot comment because I don't use Windows. Comment on what? You'll have an easier read over here, but I wanted to get to the original article. First, I cannot believe that in 2011 Microsoft is telling me I'm using the wrong browser. Millions of websites with commenting systems, and for theirs (it is MSN after all) I need a Windows machine. Yes, I can read, Firefox too. Forget it. I use Safari and Chrome, and the rest of the Internet is good enough for them. Ahem. Now the music and Mr. Bon Jovi. I too lament the inability to browse records at the store. I used to love going to Tower or another big store and flipping through the CDs. He wants for vinyl albums, I want CDs. But you know, it was pirating that was making the labels angry. iTunes wasn't the cause, it was a successful reaction. And frankly, Jon, you are too old. Now, we have more music to buy than ever. And believe it or not, if you don't want the preview, don't preview it. I still order CDs online because while a physical store would lose money here, the online stores offer far more product. I lose the experience of the store for sure. But there are plenty of new experiences in life to relish. And if I could trade the variety of an Amazon or an iTunes catalog with the physical store down the street, I don't know. I think the online retailer wins. Now, I must admit, I've visited some smaller outfits in my time that were superior to the "big box" retailers that I really enjoyed visiting in my travels (I can think of a nice store in Michigan I used to visit, and another one with a huge catalog in Madison, WI). But while Steve may have ruined it for you, he also provided the industry with a way to survive, and gave innovation to consumers. And he may just be bringing the joys of discovering and listening to music in new, significant way to consumers today. Now, Steve, let's start working on those high-bit rate recordings through the iTunes store, okay? Because it is 2011, and we're still listening to music online at the same resolution as Sony/Phillips unveiled in 1984, only compressed . Okay?