Vote

I don't download music. It's too slow, and both formats are lo-fi.

If just the first two choices were given, I would chose downloading. I have found that streaming is suseptible to cutting out due to "Net congestion." I find this to be totally unacceptable! On the other hand, downloading takes time before you can enjoy your selection, and uses valuable hard-drive space. I would like to see improvements in streaming so that there are none of the interruptions commonly found today.

I run an ADSL connection so time is not an issue

mp3 all the way

I don't honestly care, since I never download audio tracks off of the internet. However, it seems to me that the ideal would be technology that could allow for the best of both options--sort of like being able to "monitor" what is being recorded on a three-head tape deck.

Choppy connections inhibit streaming dl's. The internet is getting crowded!

Until the sonics improve, I'll continue to listen to music the old-fashioned way.

I listen to audio tracks on the likes of Amazon.com only; I don't need to store the tracks because I can always go back to the site. Of course, once intelligent distributed caching has become the norm on the Net, there won't be much discernible difference between streaming or downloading (provided you have a fast connection to the Net).

I want a downloadable stream so I can hear it immediately and play it again later. Then, I'll hire a nerd to tell me if it was good music or not.

If buffers worked, then streaming . . . but since the Internet is as unpredictable as DVD-Audio, I'll download all I can.

You couldn't think of a better topic than this? How about Neither. Whatever.

Especially with low-bandwidth connections, streaming is not the right way to transfer data. The quality is often too low, and clicks occur when streaming.

I might want to keep the file. However, what's more important is that the playback will not be interrupted, which happens sometimes even with broadband connections.

You mean some of you guys actually store that dreck to "listen" to later? And you call yourselves audiophiles?!

Streaming audio needs some work. Sites like Netradio, etc., frequently get interrupted, even if the user is on a T1 line.

Everyone knows that music off of the Internet, no matter what format, sounds terrible, so what's the point? When the Internet starts to put out great music that actually sounds reasonably good (when? who knows?) is when this will be a relevant question.

Bandwidth will get better, so waits will not be much of a concern for much longer. I would love to be able to download my favorite radio shows (even with ads) and listen to them at my leisure off a CD+RW or MP3 player or hard drive. Downloading or streaming music does not have too much appeal till I find out how the quality of MP3 compares to a CD on a good audio system.

The two methods serve different purposes. Streaming would work well for sampling music, and would allow you to decide whether or not the song or album is worth downloading.

I can hardly operate this PC. Why would I want to hear some pop culture trash on a computer? Jim

Streaming audio sucks big time, you take away a chance for error when you download it.

cable needs and other basics should always prevail for system perforance...you don't know what it is until you have it. stick to basics, the rest will follow.