E. Brunswick, NJ I think that this whole napster thing is a waste of time. It doesn't concern me either way what happens. I think that artists have a right to make money for their product unless they say that it is ok for you to get their music for free. I don't see why people are so enraged about the whole thing - it has been blown way out of proportion in my opinion. Kate, 19
Seattle, WA I think Napster is a beautiful wonderful program that really shares instead of steals. Because of Napster, I was able to hear a bunch of songs and bands I was always curious about but 1) wasn't curious enough to buy a $16.99 album, or 2) never saw the album in stores that actually let you LISTEN to a CD before you buy it. And, because of Napster, I BOUGHT SEVERAL CDs by bands I would have never bought otherwise. See, record companies? Napster UPPED SALES. THAT'S RIGHT. THE QUOTAS ARE TRUE. Okay, sorry. Most bands are completely cool with Napster because they know they only get $1 from every CD sold, but the label gets about $15. Amy, 23
New Orleans, LA I think the kid who owns Napster never contemplated he would be in court against the dark side of the music industry. He is a pioneer and won't be appreciated until after his inevitable demise. Jami, 27
Lowell, MA I've never used Napster--my computer isn't even wired for sound--but I am convinced that the laws regarding intellectual property should be reworked to ensure that the computer age is fair to all sorts of creative people. Jill, 59
Saylorsburg, PA I think it's a wonderful thing. I don't understand the controversy surrounding it. I don't think it's stealing, it's simply a community to swap files. Apart from when it really tests my patience with the infernal "Transfer Error" message, I think that it's great. It's just a pity that the songs take quite so long to download. Shanna, 15
Cardiff ENGLAND I'm not much of a music person. I think Napster is just another step along the technology evolution trail. To try and squelch it probably futile. Anything that allows individuals to by-pass mega corporate control is great. Anyting that rips off the creative capital of others if slimey. Napster is both. It will work itself out I guess. Felicia, 34
Lowell, MA It's a good tool for new artists trying to get exposure. I can understand well-known artists when they say "Look, we don't need small publicity any more" I just wish they'd understand what most people mean when they say "$17 for this??!!" Alias Irrelevante I haven't thought about it a lot, certainly not enough to resolve the questions of free access vs. copyrights. Conceptually, it is an ingenious idea with a lot of convenience attached. Jane, 60
West Linn, OR Napster is your friend. Firelady, 22
Dallas, TX Eh,I think regardless of the court ruling, there is always going to be somebody who can do what Napster does without getting caught. Music isn't really my bag, so what do I care? Ernest, 29
Washington, DC I never had a problem with it and don't see what all the yelling is about. I go out and buy a cassette or CD that I really like - I loan it to a friend, the friend makes a copy and loans that to two of his friends...they each make copies of the songs they like...loan theirs out...etc. etc. I always thought music was meant to be shared. Okay, so these assholes (a chosen few - apparently) are simply in it for the almighty dollar - don't really give much of a hoot about the artistic value. Tells me a little something about these "artists" right off the bat. As if they haven't made enough money off concerts and record sales already! It's not like people are going to download from Napster (or any of the other sites of the like) and quit going to music stores for cripes sake. And that line about wanting to be able to put his daughter through college makes me cringe. I don't think any of the folks in Metallica really have to be too concerned about future financial woes. I think the whole thing is just stupid and it would be really cool if everyone in the world who owned a Metallica CD or tape lloaned them all out for friends to make copies -- then made a big pile and burned the recordings to the ground. P.S. I am not anti-Metallica...I am anti-brainless dolts. Fisch, 45
Preston, CT i think napster is a great and easy way to listen to music. you get to download all of your favorite songs and it's much better than the radio. you can hear new artists... a lot that you can't hear on the radio... and you can hear new songs from your favorite artists. the cd industry is scared that napster will buy out their business but i think it may just make people go buy more cd's. they hear someone they really like. and they buy their Brooke, 16
Memphis, TN i think napster is great, and i think it is a major threat to the music industry. however, i think the music industry will lose the court battle.just like people can tape movies and trade them, people can copy their songs and trade them. Steve, 29
Lake Worth, FL it's fabulous--the best thing for music since the phonograph.. Gemma Lynn I think it's the greatest MP3 search engine available. However, since I have a Macintosh, I use <<Macster>> which is basically the same thing. Melodi, 19
Hlliard, OH I love Napster. I like to be able to hear what a band sounds like before I drop $15 on a cd. It is also a good way to check out bands I have heard of but never actually had the chance to check out. Napster is great for music freaks like myself. I think it is total BS that it will most likely be shut down... how is downloading an MP3 any different than having a friend tape a CD fpr up? Maggie, 20
Sandwich, IL I personally don't use it because I am a crap computer but alot of my friends do and have burned cd's for me and I think its great. I mean accress to all that music and most of it is stuff you can't find at the stores anymore. Stephanie, 24
TX Isn't that a kind of auto racing? Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA seems pretty cool to me. . .the genie is now out of the bottle, as Sting said in his on-line chat a few weeks back. . .the artist's involved seem pretty greedy and stupid to me. . mothmc, 36
Los Angeles, CA I think Napster Rocks!!!!! We still go and buy the cds so they shouldn't shut it down Savannah I didn't follow the trial very closely. I have some close relatives who make their living as writers. They think Napster is evil and should be crushed. My limited experience has been through my sister and nephew who used it a lot. I'm not sure how Napster is a whole lot different that copying cassettes or LP records. (I'm showing my age...) I'll be interested to see the group's responses. Laura, 35
Lowell, MA Well, I have downloaded it and I think it's kind of cool. If I download a song, I usually end up buying the CD... sometimes I'll get on and download music from a particular album, see if I like it or not, and then buy the CD. Napster isn't all that bad; I'm sure most of the people out there end up Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch, CO I like it. I support it and what it stands for in every possible way, except monetarily. I don't know how better to say it. Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge, LA I think it's a tool that is perhaps being unfairly targeted for persecution. Admittedly, it goes beyond recordable cassette tapes and burnable CDs, but I see the issue as a subjective line has been drawn across the spectrum of copying devices. I don't like this kind of subjectivity - it should be all Jesse, 24
Bowie, MD I never heard of Napster until the mess occurred that was talked about in the newspaper. Reba, 50
Rockville, MD thank god for free music!!! Angela, 16
Aiken, SC i don't see a problem with it. i still buy CD's and the songs i don't have on CD i download on Napster. When i get the song i delete it off Napster as it takes up too much space. Jade, 16
AUSTRALIA I think Napster is great Emma, 20
Perth AUSTRALIA I love it. I feel it is a great way for artists to get their music heard. I download music from Napster to listen to a song or two of an artist's album, to see if I want to invest my money in buying that album. Also, to listen to a new artist's music, to see if I want to purchase their music. Kevin, 33
Sugar Hill, GA USA