It was probably more due to a problem with Radiohead's website design, and overloaded webservers not responding. I tried several times purchase their album from their website, but the website was so convoluted and clearly was unable to handle the load it was receiving. I got so far as registering, submitting my credit card information (which I was a bit hesitant to do, given the shoddy look of their website). I even got a confirmation number, followed by a bunch of garbled errors from the server database. However, I never was charged the price I offered (which was admittedly low, but that reflected my overall confidence in the system than my interest in the music).
If most people trying to buy the album had the same experience I did, I can see why more people would just give up and download it elsewhere. Hopefully Radiohead, and other high-profile artists learn from this, and invest a little more in their IT beforehand.
Slashdot Mirror
It was probably more due to a problem with Radiohead's website design, and overloaded webservers not responding. I tried several times purchase their album from their website, but the website was so convoluted and clearly was unable to handle the load it was receiving. I got so far as registering, submitting my credit card information (which I was a bit hesitant to do, given the shoddy look of their website). I even got a confirmation number, followed by a bunch of garbled errors from the server database. However, I never was charged the price I offered (which was admittedly low, but that reflected my overall confidence in the system than my interest in the music). If most people trying to buy the album had the same experience I did, I can see why more people would just give up and download it elsewhere. Hopefully Radiohead, and other high-profile artists learn from this, and invest a little more in their IT beforehand.