| In the past, the measure of the truly cultured | | | | high-speed internet connection to enjoy the fruits |
| individual was the extent of the home library. Just | | | | of your searches, like a DSL provider or one of |
| watch any classic film and you can encounter the | | | | the new satellite internet companies. Dial-up need |
| image of the ideal library: quiet as a church, natural | | | | not apply for the position. (As they say, we've |
| light pouring in through the windows, and scores | | | | seen your resume and we'll call you). |
| of leather-bound volumes lining the shelves. Go | | | | The potential is amazing. High-speed internet will |
| back further in literature and you will find the | | | | have you cruising the internet, searching for new |
| same sanctuary in the work of Edgar Allan Poe. In | | | | music or rare and unreleased classics unavailable in |
| fact, Poe's narrator is engrossed in a novel when | | | | your local record store. You needn't get in the car |
| that intimidating raven comes rapping at his | | | | and go hunting, wasting a lot of gas and time. |
| chamber door. Flash forward to the 1960's and it | | | | Merely log on and you can navigate the internet |
| is the record collection (yes, 33 rpm records) that | | | | at speeds previously thought unattainable. The |
| is the standard of excellence for the music | | | | latest satellite broadband packages estimate |
| connoisseur. How varied, how deep, how | | | | speeds of up to fifty times greater than dial-up, |
| exhaustive could one's collection be? The true | | | | saving travel time and online time. Why not save |
| music lover searched for the answer and | | | | your time for the music itself? Apple's iTunes has |
| correspondingly saw personal space at home | | | | revolutionized the online music store, making it |
| sacrificed to those dear LP albums. | | | | easy (and legal) to find any band that is currently |
| These days, your music and book collection will | | | | taking the world by storm. |
| impress your friends and colleagues in the same | | | | Need to keep looking? YouTube has become the |
| way, but you don't have to give up a wing of | | | | ultimate forum for music lovers, offering |
| your house in the service of culture. When it | | | | countless performance videos, or simply access |
| comes to books, you'll need some of the space. | | | | to a song (at times, a video literally featuring a |
| But with music, you'll just be needing a computer | | | | record player and a hand, which moves the |
| with available memory and a high-speed internet | | | | needle onto a record, allowing it to play for the |
| connection. The world of internet music has gone | | | | camera). If you like what you hear, you can take |
| through many dramatic changes in the past | | | | it from there. As YouTube is all video, the |
| decade, but I think everyone has been satisfied (if | | | | high-speed connection is essential, or you'll be |
| not completely happy) with the final verdict. The | | | | watching a frozen picture. Not satisfied with a |
| big winner --all agree on this -- is the consumer. | | | | still-life? Want to hear it? Do yourself a favor and |
| These days, you can legally download songs | | | | drop the dial-up. High-speed satellite broadband will |
| online, you can legally purchase songs online and | | | | fill your computer with music and, most likely, fill |
| you can legally share music online. You'll need a | | | | your house with music lovers. |