Lol, yeah I guess so...

I'm finding that Tescos are doing some great offers at the moment on CDs and DVDs - about 8.99 or so for the latest releases. Don't know how this compares to CD-WOW as I've never used them, but unless you get free postage from Amazon then it beats them.

Also, Tescos have opened up a Jersey shop so you save on the VAT online too, which helps bring the price down a bit.

Wifey bought 4 recent release (Coldplay, Nat/Imb, Athlete etc) Cd's from Tesco's all for sub £9.

Play.com and Amazon were above this if you count in the hassle of setting up web accounts etc. (Play.com does free postage Vs chargeable postage from Amazon).

If you have access to an old mac running OS9 you can usually get around the copy protection. Seems some of the protection writers forgot about legacy macs :)

True, try different software too, some pick it up, some dont.... or just do what those crazy kids do, which is really naughty.. ahem.. and download something like http://www.edonkey2000.com/downloads.php (apparently its the free one towards the bottom) ... someone I know has downloaded for years, all movies and albums, and i... erm... he has never had any issues with viruses etc (tried most p2p's, well, he has...)

Yes, there are ways round most of the copy protection mechanisms (this is the best one!) but it's just annoying that they are there in the first place and stop me from doing what I want to do with it - purchase the album as a CD and then put it on my MP3 player.

Ok, so I could legally download (and pay for) it from iTunes but then what happens if I want to play that album in the car? Surely I've purchased the rights to listen to that music as I want, not just sitting at my PC?

Yes you can download it from the p2p networks, but again this is hassle and the next thing you know is you'll get a letter from the BPI suing you for downloading music.

Alcohol 120% handles alot of audio protected CD´s without too much problem.

I wondered how long it would take for you to show up :D

if you purchase off itunes store you can burn a CD surely?? you won't have the album artwork or case

Dunno - I don't use iTunes as it's not compatible with my MP3 player.

What happens if my pc fails and trashes all those MP3s? Do I have to buy them all again?

The same thing that hapens when you scratch a CD :)
You can back itunes tracks up to a dvd disc and reinstall them if needed. I still prefer CD's though but my missus is sick of them lying around all over the house :)