But what if choice is important? Users will need to avoid DRM restrictions. And they'll want to use standard formats like MP3 and (now growing in popularity) Ogg Vorbis that can be played on a wide variety of software and hardware.
They can. Apple panders to those who like the iPod and the simplicity of the iTMS. Not only that, but while being completely legal, the deal is still a lot better than in other online music stores. If you want to buy records and rip them into OGG - or not pay at all - then go ahead. Apple aren't stopping you, because Apple believe in gaining their market share fairly. If they fail, how does it concern the pirates and geeks, who still have a world of choice?
Not that this is likely to happen in the near future. If Apple feel they have the resources to give away 100 million songs to anybody able to acquire a Pepsi, why should the pirates and geeks be considered an inkling of a threat?
When it comes to music service, neither Apple's offering nor any service featuring Microsoft's technology offers the end user real choice. There are some small label services that manage to deliver a fairly nice catalog of music from non-RIAA affiliated sources. But then, the selection is indeed limited if the end user expects to find their old favorites.
Apple have a contract with 200 indie labels and growing, so the iTMS buyer can avoid the RIAA entirely if he/she likes.
If consumers want true freedom and choice, they will have to continue using the current collection of illegal music swapping systems. And that has been the problem all along.
Sure, but that's a discussion for another time and place. The iTMS is a service for people who choose to stay legal, and now they can, so "pirating" is entirely up to your own conscience - there's no stopping people when they have their minds made up, regardless whether their deeds could be considered punishable by law or not (which is a good thing, because it keeps the legal system on its toes). Apple have decided to build a business model around most people's general sense of morality, and it seems to be paying off.
