Thus, providing legal music online is a means of industry trying to position itself to take advantage of rising trend of portable music collections. A quick glance across major online music stores tells us exactly so. While offering free-riders affordable music (allowing them to purchase only tracks they like instead of forcing them to buy complete album) to ensure that they do not turn to music piracy, sites like eMusic and Apple’s iTunes are backing new trend. iTunes, Apple’s online music store, has added distinction of being supported by perhaps best mp3 player in business, iPod. In this combination, Apple has found a very secure marketing brand and ensured that it takes full advantage of this cross between technology and music.

Legal music downloads appear to be perfect answer to stopping music piracy, at least downloading kind. Therefore there is no surprise when one sees major record labels pushing to expand such services. However, recent developments tend to make us question what overall agenda really is. After a period of consolidation of digital music market in last two years, albums available for download online are being priced higher than they would normally be in retail stores. It used to be that you could download a song for $0.99 and a complete album for $9.99, but now stores are setting higher prices, with tracks going for $1.50 or even $2.49 and $11.50 albums being sold for $12.50 and $13.00 online. What is going on? In positioning themselves to take advantage of changing market forces, music industry has also hit upon another major factor in determining sales: consumer behavior. Legal music downloads offer people like me comfort of never having to waste time in retail stores looking for my favorite track from high-school days or wondering when latest album of Nickelback would hit shelves. Instead, all hassles are removed with everything easily searchable, previewable and downloadable from comfort of my computer chair (and this baby is very, very, comfortable). Consumers may not be usually rational, but they are always looking to save effort when it comes to making any sort of purchases. Online stores (or is it major recording labels? Who knows…) are now cashing into this very aspect of human psychology and are beginning to charge extra for a service they are portraying now as a privilege. Having already consolidated their core target market, time has now come to increase revenues.

Would this drive people back towards music piracy? Highly unlikely. People are not evil, or criminal, by nature. Appeals to their better nature usually work, and that is strategy adopted by agencies like Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) who are actively involved in putting a stop to illegal music sharing. Media campaigns encouraging music lovers to pay a dollar or two for tracks instead of ‘committing a crime’ by downloading them for free are actually working as slowly but surely, more and more people flock to online music stores. And with existing customers sticking to this more ‘comfortable’ way of buying music, industry is finally starting to win back ground it lost due to music piracy.

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Now I ask you, what could be easier than learning very BASIC language of computer use?

If you want to perform any action in any program, go to top of screen and read words there. With some exceptions, most of them say things like FILE, VIEW, EDIT, FORMAT, TOOLS, HELP. If you click on each of these words in any program, they bring down a menu of more options. (I probably don't need to explain this to you, but I'm trying to make a point here.)

Let's use FILE menu as an example. We all know what's behind door number one. NEW FILE, SAVE, PRINT... damn, this is too easy isn't it. So let me now point out five more general facts about computer programs:

In most word processing programs, pulldown menus are all pretty much same.

In most illustration programs, pulldown menus are all pretty much same.

In most utilities programs, pulldown menus are all pretty much same.

In most photo-manipulation programs, pulldown menus are all pretty much same.

In most Internet Browsers, pulldown menus are all pretty much same.

Why am I taking such pains to point this out? Because I want to shed some light on a fact that's often overlooked by skittish user. Because of fact that most word processing menus contain identical or nearly-identical pulldown menus, if you know one word processing program, you pretty much know all of them. That goes for all of other categories of programs as well. And even if menus are not identical, you know language. You'll be able to hunt for words that perform desired actions.

At this point, I'd like to thank you for sticking through this tirade with me, so that I can make my final point: The only thing holding you back from learning new computer programs is your own closed-minded attitude. Point and click. Seek and find. There is nothing easier than this. So for anyone out there who claims that they're "just not a tecchie" and can't learn programs: DO NOT DOUBT YOURSELF. You CAN learn programs!

If you master Photoshop, you'll be able to use any Photoshop knock-off program with relative ease. If you learn Microsoft Outlook, you should have little to no problem with other email management programs. This goes for all kinds of programs.

How can you become skilled in major categories of computer programs? Search for free, downloadable instructions on internet, or pay a small amount for training books. Hook up with a computer-savvy friend for a little tutorial. Click Help menu and read each topic explained. Do all this, and master programs while saving thousands on computer training classes that you don't need.

Just open your mind, and you'll see what's before you; incredible world of computers and miraculous acts you can perform through them by your own miniscule hand. You know a lot more than you think you know. So click mouse, and take your power.

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.