Download/Setup:  

Like most music download sites, Napster requires you to register with the service before you can browse their library. Registration is free.

You will need to download the Napster media player to manage your purchased songs. Admittedly, we had some difficulty downloading Napster’s media player. The application insisted on changing our registry to automatically launch once Windows was started. This pretty much means Napster will be a permanent fixture in your tray (that small selection of programs that are always visible in the bottom right-hand corner next to your clock). Although most people won’t notice, we found this requirement to be annoying and unnecessary.

Napster has two music download options. You can purchase songs and albums for $.99 or $9.99 respectively, much like iTunes, or you can subscribe. They have two subscription plans: the basic plan is $12.95 and the “To Go” option is $14.95 per month. You can only transfer music to your MP3 player or cell phone with the “To Go” plan.

Both plans allow you to download as much music as you want while your subscription is active. Once you cancel, those songs will no longer play. Songs available with a subscription are protected WMA tracks with a 128 or 192 bit rate that will only play on certain MP3 players. iPod is not compatible with Napster’s subscription plans.

Help/Support:  

Napster includes a plethora of help options including email support, a user guide, FAQs and telephone support. We were able to easily find answers to all of our questions and concerns.

With more than seven million DRM free songs, you can’t go wrong with Napster. In our opinion, the only things holding this service back are a few quirky irritations including their insistence on changing our registry. Napster is ready to take over the music download world. However, they really need to include a few additional digital download features - at least get audiobooks and podcasts up there.

For a fun and exciting way to put your music downloads to use, be sure and check out our DJ Software review site.