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iPod Owners Not Thieves

Posted by Zonk on from the we-always-knew-it dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Remember last year when Microsoft head Steve Ballmer said iPod owners were music thieves and their iPods were full of stolen music? It turns out they're actually less likely to download music using filesharing software than owners of other MP3 players. A lot less likely." From the article: "A survey of US and UK music buyers reveals that although 25 per cent of people admit to downloading music from file-sharing services, only seven per cent of iPod owners do so. Proving that iPod users are either scrupulously honest or more paranoid they'll get sued by RIAA than owners of lesser music players."

6 of 470 comments (clear)

  1. Could be that iPod owners have more... by SIGFPE · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...disposable income to spend on legal downloads than owner of lesser^H^H expensive mp3 players.

    --
    -- SIGFPE
  2. Microsoft just doesn't get it ... by orangeguru · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Stever Job once correctly stated that the iTunes store has to compete with P2P services / pirating. They succeded - and it is bloody convinient too.

    The iTunes store offers so far the best online music store and player combination (software and portable). So far none of the other companies have succeded in offering a better combo. The winner takes it all ...

  3. Flawed!! by teknow · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Researchers spoke to 1,000 people towards the end of last year. More details available from XTN Data here. XTN on their home page claims all research comes from web buyers. These people must know that their name is inevitably attached at some point to their data. 'Truthieness' is going to be at stake. We are unable to know if they are offered an incentive to give data or their propensity at openly lying as they know what the proper or inproper action might be.

  4. Re:Convenience by guice · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have to agree 100% with that, too. I'm one of them!

    I tried downloading songs, but found such a hassle getting anything of good quality. I'd have 24 songs, 18 of which were just horriable. I gave up on downloading. The iPod/iTunes just makes things easier. You can always get a short 30 second preview and you're always guarenteed to have a full song with no "beeps", "scratches" or anything ruining a good song.

    Paying for songs have never been a concern of mine---the raise in prices IS. I remember the promise CD prices would drop ("once they became mainstream"), but have only raised.

  5. Submitter Wears Bias Proudly by nathanh · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Proving that iPod users are either scrupulously honest or more paranoid they'll get sued by RIAA than owners of lesser music players."

    Or that iPod users are dishonest and will lie about where they got their MP3s.

    Or that iPod users are lazy and tend towards the convenience of iTunes.

    Or that iPod users are technically incompetent and can't figure out P2P.

    Or that the statistical sampling and analysis was flawed.

    There are so many possible reasons. Why did the submitter need to state a false dichotomy?

    lesser music players

    Oh, now I see why.

  6. Re:MOD PARENT UP by horn_in_gb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, I was really thankful my iRiver MP3 player had radio because I've had to tune into emergency broadcast several times these last few months. I never listen to radio (and don't have a TV), but quickly found the right station and could monitor while I sat in my closet waiting for a Tornado to eat me. I also didn't grow up in a place with tornados so I didn't know what to expect or what to do if it hit.

    Don't mess with Emergency Broadcasting, man