# MP3 software conundrum **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-software-conundrum/213779 "2003-11-17T21:54:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-software-conundrum/213779/1 "2003-11-17T21:54:53Z")
Last year, I bought my daughter an mp3 player. This year I’m thinking about getting her set up so she can download (legally) music to her heart’s content. However, here’s the kicker: The software that came with the player (music match) only runs on windows, while we use a Macintosh (O 8.6) as the family computer for internet and e-mail, and as far as I can tell, Music Match no longer offers a Mac version. Can anyone: Recommend an alternative that will run on the Mac and can be used with a Rio player, and Can you recommend a good download service? Thanks to all in advance… ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-software-conundrum/213779/2 "2003-11-18T06:31:50Z")
I can’t answer your first question, but I’ll try the second. While some people would say iTunes Music Store is the best music service available for Mac–Napster is Windows only, I’m not sure about Rhapsody–the problem with iTunes and Rhapsody is that they don’t sell MP3s. Any tracks you got from them would have to be burned to a CD, then ripped back onto the computer as MP3s in order for you to transfer them to the Rio. I’d suggest [EMusic](http://www.emusic.com), which offers real MP3s. The first 50 downloads are free, and after that you pay $10 for 40 downloads, per month. (You can also pay $15 for 65 downloads, or $20 for 90 downloads.) ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-software-conundrum/213779/3 "2003-11-18T09:18:06Z")
Well, I suppose you have a PC someplace (how do you load mp3s to the player right now?) Get them networked, and use the mp3s from the Mac.