Music vs. Cover Art & Booklet

^ maybe so. I wouldn't call it "stupid" though ... but of course nobody can't seriously vote for choice #2. Call it a rhethorical poll then, with the inherent message being that the actual music is always more important than the artwork.

I guess the next question is: Could you let go of the concept of having the physical cover art / booklet and instead have downloads and all the cover art and booklet information accessible via the internet?

^^Well I said "kind of stupid" not actually in fact stupid. I was being nice.

^ back in the nineties I lost about 150 vinyl albums because they got wet in the basement (a water pipe leaked). So I know first hand how it feels to lose part of your collection.

BTW: I was thinking about the new DT album that's about to be released. I think I'll buy it as a download, even though I have all their other albums on CD. I'm breaking with my tradition ...

Mr ProgFreak wrote: ^ maybe so. I wouldn't call it "stupid" though ... but of course nobody can't seriously vote for choice #2. Call it a rhethorical poll then, with the inherent message being that the actual music is always more important than the artwork. I guess the next question is: Could you let go of the concept of having the physical cover art / booklet and instead have downloads and all the cover art and booklet information accessible via the internet?

To give an answer to your question: I have been reading a lot of books online lately, and while it is a great thing that this is possible (for free even), it is somehow not the same for me, simply because my favourite reading position is on my belly, with a book in front, and to top it with Jean by my side, reading together. To do that with a computer I would have to switch to laptop, and it still would not be quite the same. But I am quite certain that for future generations this will not be a problem at all.

The T wrote: Really... the question is kind of..... There's no way I'd buy an album just for the booklet and not the music... please.... wrong alternatives....   But there's no way I will ever change to downloading unless I'm forced to by anihilation of the CD... I like to have a collection I can SEE.... and I can SHARE with other people... in my HOUSE, presenty, not just "share" over a network.... I hate that de=personalizing factor of MP3... killing social life completely.... now everybody is a walking zombie with headphones plugged in their ears minding about nothing but his "lown sh*t"....

What he said. I know having a large CD collection (as we have now) poses lots of problems as regards space, but in my view it's all worth it. And I also share Friede's sentiments about reading e-books... I can read articles on the web, but NOTHING for me will ever replace the pleasure of reading an actual, material book or magazine - especially when curled up on the couch, or lying in bed.

Does no one care about my cat's piss albums?

Edited by Snow Dog - June 13 2009 at 17:30

I'm with Teo, its' a complete package for me too.   No way I could ever switch to downloads. 

Actually, I go for LP minis whenever available. 

Exhibit 1:

Edited by Dean - June 13 2009 at 20:54

I'm getting the feeling that most of you who *demand* the piece of plastic and paper component are simply used to the format so much that you can't - and don't want to - think about alternatives.

I'm sure that 20 years from now music will be a purely virtual thing ... as will be video (blu-ray is the last disc format). Amazon have shown with their Kindle that it is possible to transfer the experience of reading a book to the electronic world ... why should it be different for booklets? In the end the electronic solution will take over, because it's simply more convenient, more efficient and more elegant. If done correctly of course, but I am sure that we'll eventually see some kind of device like the Kindle, but a bit larger and with color display, and of course with one (or more) headphone plugs.

^ sure. As I said before, I prefer music over stuff to put in a shelf.