Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Demise of the Disc

Physical music formats have always seemed ultimately disposable. Buying a record, or 8-track, or cassette, you would too often find the rest of the songs were much worse than the one you'd heard on the radio, and probably only listen to your purchase a few times. Even if you did like it and give it repeat plays, you'd be required to purchase it again in the next format to come along, and let's face it, these things spend so much more time on the shelf than spinning in a player, it's like we never listen to most of them at all.

In today's greener world, people are liking the switch to digital. Digital music and other media don't need to be delivered in an exhaust-belching, gas gulping truck, they don't contain any petroleum based plastics, and they are as light and space-saving as the devices you put them on. As long as you don't accidentally delete your collection, you're good (but the industry will take a dim view of your backups, most likely - remember, these are the guys who fought against the VCR, media lending, and even the legality of purchasing used CDs.) The digital solution that will please the common music lover, golden-eared audio snobs, musicans, and the media cartels has yet to be found. But on their 26th birthday, CDs' days are numbered, and I won't miss them - I already own more than enough.

Wired: Happy birthday, Compact Disc. Now go away (also has interesting comments submitted by users, at bottom.)

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