Can you live without a CD player?
I know that question sounds a bit silly, but it is a legitimate question. I’ve been hearing a lot about the death of the CD lately. Rumor has it that then next MacBook Pro models will not come with an optical drive (CD/DVD player/burner). There are already cars coming out without CD players (Ford Fiesta) and more automakers are looking at removing them (Cadillac, of all brands!).
I’m a bit torn on all of this. Just about the only thing I try to keep somewhat current with is my computer. Right now I’m using one from mid-2009 and have just about maxed out her capabilities. But could I make the switch to one without an optical drive? Would I just have to purchase an external drive? Proponents of the move point to the proliferation of things such as Apple’s App Store which has been able to replace CD instal disks for virtually every software they produce. But I still burn DVDs occasionally. Do I simply need to transition everything to online formats?
Then there is the car thing. People under 30 apparently don’t use CDs anymore. They have bluetooth and USB connected smartphones. (Serious topic: I’m just over 30 and cannot for the life of me understand how anyone under 30 could ever actually afford to own an iPhone.) In December Kellie and I got our first smartphones and have, for the first time, the ability to text. Yes, we are that slow in getting to the party. And that is only because we got in on the super-cheap beta for Republic Wireless! Yes, we can connect our phones and iPod to our car through a headphone jack, but we still use the CD player quite a bit.
I know, I’m sounding very old right now! I know technology changes at a rapid pace and that transitions in technology can be rough. But what about you? Would the idea of no CD player on your next computer or in your next car cause you to reconsider the new computer or car?
An answer to this is to think of 2 main things: do you want to own what you bought & do you want to be able to use it. Many online DRM controlled music services have failed, leaving paying customers with useless music they eventually won’t be able to play. Store it in the cloud & end up having the company go out of business or seized by the government, megaupload.com being the biggest in 01/2012. This mean one thing – if you don’t have it in hand, you may never have it…
The ‘first sale’ doctrine means if you bought something, you own it and can do with it (mostly) as you please. Digital downloads are usually considered licensed and are subject to restrictions, such as no right of transfer. You are not allowed to ‘sell’ those iTunes with the player you own, but if you owned the CD, it is yours to sell. I’m amazed people will pay nearly the same for a download of lower quality & no ownership rights.
Remember those ancient devices called VCRs (think CDs)? When you filled up a tape, you bought another & another until you had a whole wall full of them… unlimited storage. Now we have digital PVRs (think DRM downloads), once they get full you have to delete or ‘buy’ the DRM controlled version. If you don’t own something, you may pay for it again & again.
Dana, that’s a completely different angle to the question and a really great point. I was mostly wondering from a content-creation standpoint. But you’re right, there’s much more to it than that! Your point also applies to things like books on Kindle/Kindle app. I have several, but sometimes I just have to buy the hardcopy book so I know I’ll always have access to it no matter what technology does.