Week 5 : Music Files and mp3s

Oh woe is me! This exercise has been a somewhat expensive venture into the world of virus opportunities via music downloads. The resident PC techie started to quiver and shake, eyes rolling frantically around his head as he reached for the mouse, rapidly booted up the virus check and engaged a higher level of fire wall protection. Left with the impression that I had just pressed the button for the final 20 second countdown of a nuclear device I quietly left the study and disappeared into the recesses of the family room.
Some time later I heard the shut down tones of windows vista, closely followed by the thunk of the computer chair hitting the PC table, purposeful footsteps heading in my direction and the words "What the @#$%!&+* did you do that for? Any halfwit knows you do NOT GO ON TO THOSE FREE SITES TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC!!!!!"
Experiment over! From my brief observations, the free music was so remotely removed from my "appeal" zone that it simply endorsed my preference for "pay as I download" where I am able to find music that I enjoy and selectively download the pieces I want. It is very easy to do on my home PC which clearly walks PC dummies such as myself through all procedures relating to music downloading. I am sure that there are squillions of people who love getting stuff for free but the words "there is no such thing as a free lunch" should echo loudly in one's ears as they take advantage of other people's work without paying for the priviledge! Free downloads are a little like swine flu...get up close and personal and be prepared to suffer the consequences...could be that you have a mild infection OR could be that you head for a miserable end. It's really all up to you and your values!!! I can see that the free sites would be a great medium for "would be's if they could be's to be discovered or may appeal more to people who really enjoy local music that does not receive much publicity or air time in mainstream marketing areas but I remain somewhat disconnected from the virtues of free downloading. I also think that some of our clients would struggle to download music in our libraries without some intensive assistance from staff. From past experience, many of our clients simply cannot do this on their own without staff assistance on every occasion. Speaks volumes, huh??? That said, I am not adverse to browsing YouTube to hear snippets of music that I may enjoy, then subsequently pay to download.
Being the crusty old Pukeko that I am, I still get a real buzz going into Marbecks and browsing through their classical CDs for a Smetana, Mozart, Sibelius or Vivaldi, finding a treasure then heading off home with a good cheese, a glass of wine and no interruptions - ahhh heaven!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zuCPYxnqH4