Well, here are a couple of reaons why I downloaded the iTunes version of those albums:

With the death of retail, I am pretty much limited to big box/discount retailers to buy CDs, .e.g. Best Buy, Walmart...and I generally don't shop at these retailers.  There are several independent stores close by, and while I like to support them, they couldn't match the prices of the Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse or Trolleyvox CDs on iTunes.   I know....I checked.   Newbury Comics may be able to offer those CDs at substantial discounts, but the indie stores in my area did not.  

I am running out of room for CD storage.  I am also moving this year and idea of moving all of those CDs and vinyl is, quite frankly, freakin' me out. At this point in my life, I don't need or want any more CDs. 

DRM is not really a factor for me, since, as I understand it, it limits the use of the files on a maximum of 5 devices...and I currently only use the files on one device....my PC.   Incidently, DRM has not prevented me from burning a CD-R for use in the car (or for burning additional CD-Rs for friends).

The most important factor was convenience.  Generally, my buying decisions occur at times when most retail stores are closed.  The ability to download 24/7 is something a brick and mortar retailer just can't provide.  

Mark E.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Benjamin Lukoff <blukoff@alvord.com> 

> At those prices I'd rather have the non-DRM CD. 
> 
> On Wed, 23 May 2007, Mark Eichelberger wrote: 
> 
> > I have bought entire albums at the USA ITunes. The most recent Trolleyvox, 
> > Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen come to mind. All of the albums I have 
> > purchased have been priced between $7.99 to $9.99, which, IMHO, seems quite 
> > reasonable. (Although they do have albums available that are priced 
> > higher.) The downloads are 128 kbps AAC files. 
> > Mark 
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Bob Hutton" 
> > To: 
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 5:00 PM 
> > Subject: Re: iTunes 
> > 
> > 
> > > Jaimie, what I was getting at was this: the price iTunes charges per song 
> > > doesn't entice anyone I know to download whole albums' worth of songs on a 
> > > regular basis . I know a few who will stump up for the odd song now and 
> > > again, but that's it. Do any Auditeers download albums from iTunes 
> > > regularly? I can't remember exactly how many songs you can fit (on 
> > > average) onto a 30GB iPod - is it 15,000 or so? If so, that means it 
> > > would cost $15,000 dollars to fill your iPod, assuming you bought all the 
> > > music from Apple. 
> > > 
> > > Say an average album has 10 tracks - that means $10 to download it. By 
> > > your reckoning, you would see $8.60 of that. How does that compare with a 
> > > CD? 
> > > I suppose what I am saying in essence is that I agree with the guy in the 
> > > Chicago Tribune article - 25 cents does seem a fairer price for me to pay 
> > > for mere downloads as opposed to CDs. And if Apple charged a quarter of 
> > > the current price, would they then maybe sell more than 4 times as many 
> > > tracks? I don't know the answer to that of course, all I am trying to do 
> > > is tell it from a consumer's viewpoint (my own and people I know). 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
>