So MS all but ruined the desktop computing industry for the unwashed masses. Now it's going to come in and do the same for music downloading. MS has a huge advantage here. Most people using Windows don't even realize that MS sucks and also most likely don't have or care about an iPod/iTunes. So MS wins again by default based solely on it's installed base. Even if the service sucks it won't matter. They have already won war. They won it along time ago.

P.S. I am a Mac user so don't flame me. I'm just disgusted with MS.

From what I recall, Jobs said that if Microsoft ever achieves a certain market share (50%?) of the online music business, he'd consider talking to them again. I think this makes sense, since the industry is still in its infancy, and it would be a pain for Apple to work with all of the assorted individual players right now.

Of course, the other solution is that Microsoft could offer their content in one of the many unprotected formats that the iPod supports (which, BTW, exceeds those of nearly every other music player). Yay! Instant iPod support!

DRM is the enemy!

And exactly which file formats was MS going to give Apple in exchange for the FairPaly format - Word, Excel, Powerpoint (too late Apple can already deal with this), WMA, MS Project, Exchange, Visio?

Apple keeps getting beat up for keeping folks out of the consumer music space when for years MS has used file formats to keep Apple out of the corporate space.

Only consumers and corporate IT can change this behavior - and I don't see them clamoring for it in overwhelming numbers.

This is the real test. All the other stuff was just warm-ups and pre-season exhibition. If Apple can hold its own after Sept. 2, they will truly be the digital music King.

Good thing SJ and Co. were smart enough to get a year jump on MS by introducing iTunes for Windows. They'd be sunk if they hadn't.

(Also glad the hPod is debuting shortly.)

What it sounds like is MS is trying to get the iPod compatible with their music store NOT their music store compatible with the iPod.

RE- they don't want FairPlay, they want Windows Media to play on the iPod.

I agree with the above statement that windows users dont realize thier OS sucks.
I USED MS based computers exclusively since the days of MS DOS and the IBM XT. I gave in the to anti apple hype for years, I would never touch them. On a whim I bought a g3 ibook over a year ago because I used photoshop for my work. well... It took a while, but as I write to you From that very ibook I realized that the only reason I disliked apple was because I was told to dislike it.
windows is just wonky compared to this... I have a 3 gig windows monster that I built a while ago that is collecting dust... the mac works better. I can say that because I have been on both sides now. My next puter will be a mac.

but I ramble... my point is.... A year ago I would have said that MS could do no wrong...;. now, I type on my mac listening to itunes with pshop running some batch processes...and I laugh at this announcement.

Give the 3gig pc xD
It's money for Microsoft but also for Apple. Don't know what will happen.

I work in IT (I am a CIO) and I decided to build a Wintel box about 18 months ago - because I could. So at the time I bought a $1500 motherboard (because that's all that was available if you wanted to run a dual processor system) to run dual Xeion 2.2 GHz processors (another $1200 since P4 boards are not dual processor capable). I bought the expensive 1GB RAM for $1500, a case, HDs etcs. Total cost just over $7000. I installed Win XP and used it to burn some CDs etc. Then my $5000 (I am in Australia) Dual 2GHz G5 arrived and that slow by comparison dual processor Xeon now gathers dust - it has never been turned on since. So now I am going to install Linux on it so I can come up to speed with the replacement OS for Windows since this is where many corporates are heading. I still use Windows on my work provided Toshiba Centrino notebook but I only use it at work. When at home I use the G5 or the 1.5GHz PowerBook and with a big grin the whole time. I sometimes bring in my PowerBook to work and leave my Toshiba at home and it makes for a great day.

As far as I know, Windows & Office are the only money makers they have. Everything else has not been a sucess.

I don't think Apple has much to worry about.

They want the iPod to support WMA, but the current version of their Media Player for the Mac doesn't play anything that uses Windows Media DRM. If that remains true, then Microsoft's music store won't be open to Mac users, just like Real's.

Sooo, MS wants this concession from Apple in exchange for what, exactly? Are they going to publicly make noise about killing Mac Office again or something, if they don't get what they want?

When are we going to start hearing all the braying about "choice" again? I never get tired of that.

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Guest wrote:
As far as I know, Windows & Office are the only money makers they have. Everything else has not been a sucess.

I don't think Apple has much to worry about.