ArsTechnica has a nice analysis of the pros and cons of iTunes for Windows. The main drawback to the software and service, of course, is the lock-in with the iPod,
Some other issues have been highlighted by competitors out to
deflate Apple’s party balloon. Dave Fester, the General Manager of the
Windows Digital Media Division, surprisingly had little positive to say
about iTMS in a general Q&A on “Choosing a Digital Music Service for Windows Users.” His complaints are not totally without merit, however.
Unless Apple decides to make radical changes to
their service model, a Windows-based version of iTunes will still
remain a closed system, where iPod owners cannot access content from
other services. Additionally, users of iTunes are limited to music from
Apple’s Music Store. As I mentioned earlier, this is a drawback for
Windows users, who expect choice in music services, choice in devices,
and choice in music from a wide-variety of music services to burn to a
CD or put on a portable device. Lastly, if you use Apple’s music store
along with iTunes, you don’t have the ability of using the over 40
different Windows Media-compatible portable music devices.
Obviously this is code speak for “we only like services that use WMP
9,” but the iPod issue is a real one. While some are convinced that
iTMS is really nothing more than a ploy to sell iPods, this would be a
castrating move on Apple’s part. The cost of iPods alone are
prohibitive for many people. Those who do buy are likely to keep their
iPods for a rather long time. iPod saturation is a real concern for
Apple, and while iTMS may spur iPod sales for a while, it alone won’t
be enough to keep people buying them in two years when most interested
folks will already have one. Of course, Apple is the master of selling
expensive hardware through software/service means, but iTMS should
really bite the bullet and support other devices.