|\|apster

Looking for some free music. Napster is the place for fast downloads and a wide variety of music. I have been downloading MP3's for over 3 years now. I have many differnent programs to get music. I know all of you have heard about Napster in the press or somewhere else. Napster is huge these days. I remeber when there wasn't very many people on it, it was much faster then but the range of different music was slim.

Protocol

Napster uses a mesh type of network to get the music to its users. All of the shared files go threw main servers at Napster. That is really the downfall of Napster's sharing technology. Napster is the most widely used mp3 sharing/downloading program out there. Some if its compitors are, Gnutella, Scour, Aimster, and a few others. I have used pretty much all of them, and they just dont compare to Napster.

$Cash$

Since I have gottin my DSL line and my two 20 gig HardDrives and my CDR, I have saved a ton of cash. I have not bought a single CD in over 2 years. Anything new that comes out in the stores, is out on Napster. I have a huge collection of music. Some of it I have not even listen to yet. I dont really feel like i'm ripping off the music industry or anything like that. Hey, its Technology there really is no way to stop it. The music industry is kind of dumb in a way to try and shutdown Napster. Yes, Napster is the most widely used program but, there are so many other ways and programs to share files its crazy.

Security

Some people/Network Admins say that Napter is a major security problem for LAN/WAN. I dont really think so becuase an intruder only has access too the shared directories on your HD.

Bandwith

I must say that Napster can suck up just about any FAT Pipe out there. Downloading and Uploading MP3's for a long period of time really takes up a ton of bandwith. I know this becuase I am a Network Admin and before I blocked it on the firewall, our ISP bill almost doubled becuase users were on Napster 24/7. Napster slowed down our LAN tremdously.

Well overall Napster is fun. If you want to save a little cash, check it out. I would prefere you get a DSL or Cable line first. If you on a Dial-up, forget it.

--Itztommy



Recommended: Yes