some people seem to know what everyone else wants. That the subscription model is bad. That all people like to own their own music and listen to their vinyl's or cd collection over and over. Some people actually like to experiment and listen to new songs, mix it up a little. I agree that this can be done with a radio but it's not exactly the same thing is it? Besides, it's not like the iPod includes an FM tuner. It like the same closed minded people are trying to push people away from iTunes.

I think their is room for both and know of plenty of Mac users that wouldn't mind a subscription model at all. I just think Apple should be the one to do it. If not, if they don't think it's a good idea, then more power to Real and hopefully Apple will open up the iPod.

I'd like to see the stats coming out of the subscription model.

I mean if I was a record company and saw that for $15, people were downloading 1000's of songs and their cut is say $12 (How does Real make money, or if it's less, how to the record companys make money?), I'd be a lot less likely to renew agreements in favor for the purchase model...

... or is this a pardigm shift where people move that way, h***, my tax records are sitting on a server now and I used to swear I'd never do that!?!?, maybe I don't need to own my music and it becomes kinda like renting a radio but I control what's playing.

Since no one can complete with the iPod/iTunes/iTMS trio, Apple is just letting the others fight over their already tiny "subscription" piece of the legal music download pie. From Apple's perspective, the more the better. Since Real is not offering anything different from Napster, all they are doing is stealing potential customers from Napster, not Apple.

If the subscription service model becomes popular enough to make people actually give up their iPods to get it (looking doubtful), Apple would just release their own iPod-compatible subsciption service. End of story. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple has already done the development for such as service. But they have no incentive to make such a service available. Pay-per-song is probably more profitable than subscription. Why would Apple offer a service that will primarily complete with itself, the existing iTMS service? That would be really dumb...

"Since Real is not offering anything different from Napster, all they are doing is stealing potential customers from Napster, not Apple."

Are you kidding? Wishful thinking is all that is. Apple is not that dominant. If you haven't been paying attention Apple, still the most dominant music provider, has been gradually losing market share. Nothing to be worried about is most Apple faithful's response. Sure, let's wait until it's 50%. I would hope, as you say, that Apple has at least experimented with the subscription model internally because the day will come when they'll have to make a choice.

I know at least a dozen Apple/iPod users that would are interested in at least trying a subscription model once it becomes available for Mac. I've help set up a few people that were Windows users and now love the Mac but were asking if they could use Napsters subscription service. Long time Mac users friends are still hoping for such a service from Apple or even Real.

If you'd like to have the option of the Rhapsody subscription music service on the Mac, drop Real a note [url=http://service.real.com/realplayer/contact/]here[/url]

The point is that Apple would have to have a compelling reason to make music subscriptions available for iPod users. Competition from Real, Napster, etc. has so far not been enough reason.

>I know at least a dozen Apple/iPod users

If those users (and new users) start buying non-iPod devices in signficantly larger numbers, that would be enough reason. iTunes and iTMS are still there mainly as a means to sell iPods.

Apple has probably been developing the underlying technology to offer a subscription music service, because that's the model they will use when the "iTunes Video Store" (or whatever they call it) comes on-line. Video is where a monthly subscription service, a download-based version of the NetFlix scheme to be used only with the "iPod Video" device makes sense.