Through class we have been talking, engaging and using new forms of media. In doing so we have discussed the benefits that this new technology has on the media industry and aspiring journalists. However I thought it would be relevant to cover the negative aspects of digital media and the constraints that it imposes on individuals.

Within the article: 9 Reasons Digital Media Products Are A Bad Deal For Consumers-

It discusses that while consumers can watch TV on their iPods, download sports highlights to their cell phones, and take vast libraries of music with them wherever they go it may not be a necessarily be a boon for consumers.

When consumers buy digital music, movies, or television programs from iTunes, Amazon, and most other digital content sources, they are ultimately paying more, getting less, and being forced to make platform decisions with long term implications.

Within the article are the 9 reasons as to why most digital media products are a bad deal for consumers:

1. Digital media prices are too expensive when compared to traditional media products. iTunes album prices are generally $2 to $3 below the price you would expect to pay for a discounted CD.
2. Consumers supply their own bandwidth and physical media. In the era of digital downloads consumers are now bearing the costs of manufacturing and distribution. Meanwhile media companies are still including those costs in the price of their digital products.
3. Packaging not included. When you buy a digital media product physical artifacts are obviously not included. Where the price of digital media products is lower than physical media products, the corresponding price differential is usually not enough to make up for the fact that the product does not include any of the traditional packaging.
4. Product extras are frequently missing. While digital albums may provide bonus tracks, digital movies usually don’t include the DVD extras.
5. Platform lock-in. Thanks to proprietary and incompatible DRM systems almost all digital media products released by major studios require consumers to choose a platform and lock-in to the selected platform.
6. Shorter product life-span. Digital media products arguably have a much shorter product life-cycle and will require more frequent replacement than physical media products.
7. No returns. Ever try to return a song to iTunes? Can’t be done. Sure, they might let you re-download the track if there was something wrong with the source file, but in general digital products cannot be returned in the same way physical media products can.
8. No resale value. In the good old days you could take your used CD’s down to the nearest record store and sell them for cash or credit. When you buy digital media products that’s not an option. The traditional Right of First Sale has been stripped away in the digital age.
9. Fair use restrictions. Most digital media products come with a variety of limitations designed to restrict their usage. Depending on the source, you may or may not have the ability to make a copy for personal use.

So when we consider these infringements we should ask ourselves, Is digital media the direction we should be heading, furthermore can we afford to move in that direction?