I use iTunes over both eMusic and Napster, mostly due to ease-of-download. While Napster offers a 'monthly' thing, their selection is nowhere near as large as the iTunes library (especially in the retard indie rock and nerd rap that I listen to). I did use eMusic briefly, as part of a special offer with my pre-iPod mp3 player - I didn't like it at all, the selection was pitiful and the front end program was taint-tastic.

Now, if you're not buying an iPod you probably will not be as likely to use iTunes, for obvious reasons (although it's very much possible, if you look around hard enough) - I would guess that Napster is better than eMusic in this scenario, but neither are ideal. The monthly Napster deal is probably MUCH cheaper than iTunes - but the .99c/song is only for single tracks, and full albums are generally cheaper.

I've only had 2 iTunes searches come back negative (Love is All, and the new Isolee album - they had the old Isolee one, to note), FWIW - their selection is extraordinarily complete.

-RC
--well into triple digits last month on iTunes

Thank you, this is exactly the sort of information that I was interested in!

I'd love to help you pooh bear. I need to know what you used before though. :(

-Rudey

Informative like Chris Farley in Waynes World

http://www.warez.com/

free and somewhat anonymous.

I just borrow other people's ipod and take all the music I want off that. I think between the four or so I borrowed I have around 7k songs.

Really...? I've had problems with a lot of songs not being in iTunes. They are, for the most part, pretty complete, but its hard to find some tunes occassionally.

My friend swears by Walmart.com, only 88 cents a song!

You'll have far more problems with individual tracks than albums, obviously - for instance, if you're whoring the track reviews on Pitchfork, you'll be lucky to find 30%. But as far as albums go, I find iTunes to be better than most.

I'm going to hit up a really good eMusic offer this week, they claim to have improved their selection - I'll report back.

Bobby. Hands down the best :)

I love iTunes too, great stuff. Tho I get a little download happy some nights and forget that 99cents adds up quickly!

limewire and winmx.....why pay for your music?

i used to use winmx, but all of a sudden it just stopped working for me. ever have that problem? .. then i got morpheus and it just about ate my computer :( .... limewire, as the only alternative ive come across, works really well i think ...

yeah, had to download a new versin of winmx that is exactly like limewire except that it doesn' say limewire, it says winmx.

Ditto