] Mr Slattery called himself an iTunes customer who "was
] also forced to purchase an Apple iPod" if he wanted to
] take his music with him to listen to.

This assertion is plainly false. The iTunes client, both on Windows and on OS X, allows you to burn an audio CD using tracks purchased through ITMS. This audio CD is DRM-free. It can also be played in the majority of automobiles on the road, without any "portable audio" equipment.

The Sony CD walkman has been on the market for many years now. You can buy a clone at Target for little more than the cost of a new album, and for less than the cost of a new DVD.

If you have an iRiver, simply burn your ITMS tracks to a CD-RW and then rip them back using your iRiver client.

QED.

---

To Mr. Slattery, I say, "People are dying out there! And you're whining about your "forced purchase" of an iPod? Please."

RE: ITunes user sues Apple over iPod