itunes vs. other music programs?

[AirHalling]

Hello all.  About two years ago I posted about an issue I had with Rhapsody and my DRM files.  Eventually I had to reinstall XP in order to get my DRM files to work again.  Well it appears that I am back to having DRM issues again.

The only reason I have kept with this service was the convenience of unlimitied music on three MP3 players.  My husband alone has a playlist of 300+ songs.  Now I am looking to make a change.  (yes, by now I could have just purchased all of his songs...vs. paying for the subscription)

I do not have iTunes on any of my pc's.  I must say that I am not a lover of Apple but what are the alternatives?  I serched a bit through the forums and haven't found any reccomendations.

I am very far behind in burning music.  Just not my top priority but the time has come.  My children are now teens and they want tune-age!

Please advise.

[Geek-9pm]

For reference about DiRM or Digital Rights Management.

Digital rights management
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Digital rights management (DRM) is a term for access control technologies that can be used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to limit the usage of digital content and devices. The term is used to describe any technology that inhibits uses of digital content not desired or intended by the content provider. The term does not generally refer to other forms of copy protection which can be circumvented without modifying the file or device, such as serial numbers or keyfiles. It can also refer to restrictions associated with specific instances of digital works or devices. Digital rights management is used by companies such as Sony, Amazon, Apple Inc., Microsoft, AOL and the BBC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

You can find serious opposition to any current form of DRM.

Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it.

The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright -- to promote progress, for the benefit of the public -- then we must make changes in the other direction.

http://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/media/Copyright%20vs%20Community%20in%20the%20Age%20of%20Computer%20Networks.html

Many today think the restrictions of DRM are totally unjustified. You should be able to buy a song once and never have to pay for it again.

Advice? On this forum we can not and will not tell you it is OK to break the law. With a bit of effort, you can get the DRM stuff to work. Butnthe burden then on you to  make it work right.
Do you think taht is accetable? Is that what you understood when you agreed to the service?
You can go to the public library and borrow music without paying anything. Why should some third parties make a profit from the works of others? Does Apple really own the music?

[truenorth]

I am not quite certain as to what it is you are seeking. Is it some program that will allow you to download audio files or is it an alternative to an Apple device that will allow you to store them and play them back for listening? Or is it both? truenorth

[rthompson80819]

A key question is how many songs do you and your family download a month?

Personally, I don't download that many, and when I do I go to Amazon.  You can preview each song and the average cost is 99 cents.  Obviously, if you download more than ten songs a month, Rhapsody is cheaper.  Amazon offers a lot of free music also.

Frankly, I don't know if Amazon has DRM.  I've never had a problem, and I use two different music players.

And as Geek mentioned, don't overlook the library.  Most have a large amount of music you can borrow and rip.  And thrift stores usually have a number of Cd's for sale at $1 or $2 each.  Buy them, rip them and then donate them back to the store.

[AirHalling]

Sorry my question was so vague. 

I have accepted that I will have to begin to pay for my tracks.  That is not to say that I do not pay for them now.  I only pay to listen to them not to burn them or keep them permanently on a device.  Nor am I asking any of you to tell me how to circumvent the system.  I would't put that on this forum.  I have a very high regard for the people that donate their time to this forum.

I have yet to rip any of my cd's.  That is my intention, to rip my current collection and then to begin to purchase tracks online.  I have heard that Amazon tracks are DRM free.  Is that true?  What about tracks from Napster? 

What alternative programs are out there besides QuickTime or iTunes to rip my cd's?

I have fixed the DRM issue with our MP3 though.  That was what prompted my question because I am tired of messing with the subscription.  I just want music that is DRM free.

[jason2074]

What alternative programs are out there besides QuickTime or iTunes to rip my cd's?

Use WMP(Windows Media Player) --> http://portables.about.com/od/newsandviews/ss/how-to-rip-with-WMP.htm           
Listen to Free Music Online --> http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/

[Geek-9pm]

These quotes are over three years old.

If you're into DRM-free music, you have a reason to get pretty excited today. As speculated, Amazon has launched the public beta of its new digital music portal called Amazon MP3, which will feature two million songs from 180,000 artists and 20,000 labels, all without the painful and annoying restrictions of DRM. The press release claims  ...
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/25/amazon-launches-drm-free-amazon-mp3-music-downloads/

The eMusic.com takes a different approach by charging a monthly subscription fee to download a number of mp3s per month. Right now the subscription levels are $9.99 for 30 mp3s, $14.99 for 50, and $19.99 for 75. eMusic also focuses on independent labels so you may be able to find lots of new music from lesser known ...
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/01/12/top-5-mp3-retailers-finally-some-good-options-to-download-music-legally/

Yes, you can get MP3 without DRM from reputable companies.
The DRM is both a technical and social failure. And that is not my opinion. I am just stating an obvious fact.

[AirHalling]

Thanks for the info everyone.  It has helped.  The Sansa Fuze 8GB player is back to having DRM problems (time to change the hardware too, as this is the fourth time we have had an issue.)  So I am back to where I started.  I will be buying my husband an iPod Nano and using a combination of iTunes and those that were recommended.  I actually had tried eMusic in the past and was not a fan.  I haven't been into indie music since my 20's and I very rarely find what I want on that particular service. 

[Geek-9pm]

This link is found inside of apple.com if you can believer it.
Ways to Remove DRM From Itunes Music on Windows and Mac