Re:The old music execs failed to adapt. Their loss (Score 1)

Yes. That's sort of the point. You're not supposed to be able to transfer what you've bought freely to everyone else. That's piracy, same as burning a copy of a CD you bought to give to your friend, which he or she then has no need to buy. As to those who make the mp3 players that people bought, they made their mistakes too. Remeber Apple never used to do this at all, but when they decided to get involved in digital music, they didn't just go for a music player, they went and set up the store and all of the legal distribution contracts for the content and built a tightly intergrated user application. Creative Labs, RCA or Sony for example could easily have brought their customers the 'whole package' as well, but they didn't. So they lose and the iPod continues to get more popular. Apple has a fair DRM system that they have made non-intrusive to customer activity and largely from my own personal experience, they have yet to act in anything but good faith when a dispute has arisen. Do you really think any major media label, if they had come out of the gate with something like this, would be willing to open up THEIR DRM? I think not. They want the money and the control, but they missed the boat. At least your other mp3 players will still work as USB drives. :P