1. Being Canadian, I was a little upset that I wasn't even able to try Napster.ca's free trial for the regular streams and downloads. However, I just got a new computer with XP so was able to see what I've been missing.

I wasn't missing much so I think I'll stick with eMusic for downloads and transfers to my portable device without DRM. Digitally Imported and MusicMatch are nice for their streams.

(Napster's free portable players with a contract aren't available up here but I'm glad I didn't get suckered in. My free trial lasted about an hour. eMusic uses VBR and it sounds a whole let better than Napster's downloads.)

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Aaron

2. My grandaughter ask if it would be ok to try the free trial of napster, but it required my credit card number, she said it was only to make sure we could download it and that there would be no charges unless we liked it, she could not download anything for at least 5 tries and then gave up, i was suprised to see a charge of 9.95 for the trouble we had, i send them a letter and they refused to send back the money saying they understood but were unable to comply. i have since sent a registered letter telling them what had happened and ask it stop but it hasnt and there is n o contact number or address to write to, its as though they have me and arent letting go. so beware Napster has been proven to be somewhat questionable in their advertising. nothing is free

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by michael gannon

3. There is 1 year fee applies if your membership exeeds 7 days trial period.

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by music download

4. (3) is a killer? I'll agree with that, but (2) is equally devastating. (3) would be ugly, but tolerable, if my existing MP3 player (Dell DJ) supported the new Windows Media format that To Go uses. Why even launch this service when so few consumers can take advantage of it? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by The Zero Boss

5. "Why should listening away from the computer cost more than listening on the computer? Bogus, bogus, bogus. To be avoided."

Why should the conversation I have with my mom across town cost more when I use my cell phone versus my land line? The answer is simple you are paying for portability and mobility. Your logic is Bogus, Bogus, Bogus and must be avoided.

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Tony

6. "Why should the conversation I have with my mom across town cost more when I use my cell phone versus my land line? The answer is simple you are paying for portability and mobility. Your logic is Bogus, Bogus, Bogus and must be avoided."

Not quite. You are paying to use cell phone towers built and maintained by what is quite possibly a different company than the people who maintain your land line. In this case there is no added drain on napster as there is with the phone company who now has to maintain both land lines and cell phone towers. The consumer is the one paying more for a napster compatible player. The only argument I would find valid for the increased price is if napster has to pay more out in royalties to make a song available on their to go service. Then the added cost for the end user would make sense.

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Mike Reed