Just wanted to point out a link to Napigator, a smallish program (for windows) which allows you to surf the servers using Opennap, or any of the other hacked copies of the napster protocol. I just got a copy of Judas Priest’s cover of Johnny B Goode. 
Oh yeah, the link. Links removed by UncleBeer
Moderator’s Notes:
I have removed the links to all of the sources for MP3 download software. It is the view of the SDMB administration, and apparently the federal authorities, that this software may possibly facilitate copyright infringements. As such, we will not allow what we consider to be illegal activities to be promoted on this message board. While we recognize the possibility of any legal action against the Chicago Reader and the Straight Dope arising out of this is remote, we must take actions to limit our exposure.
We do not, however, wish to stifle the discussion; we value the exchange of ideas and opinions.
[Edited by UncleBeer on 07-28-2000 at 07:45 AM]
I use Napigator with Napster. The Napster software browsing Opennap and the other NAP servers. So, once Napster gets locked down, will their software still work to browse OpenNap and other severs? I guess we’ll find out this weekend.
If i understand it right (which may not be) I think Napster by itself picks one of several NapsterCo servers to connect you to. Napigator allows Napster to connect with servers running OpenNap, a clone of the Napster Server Software, which anyone can download and run.
So in theory, Napster will work, you’ll just need Napigator to connect to a “outside” server.
At least that’s what I think.
Thats pretty much how it works, but I guess it depends where Napster decides to turn off the pipe, if they just lock the Napster Servers it should work fine, if they also lock the software then we may be SOL. I wonder if Napster Software can be set up to browse Gnutella and Co’s servers. Probably not.
I downloaded Napigator yesterday. Its great. Opennap serveres are not connected to napster’s network so it should still work. Shutting down napster will just make pirates write more sharing programs, which I will download and use to get MP3.
Never fear, Napster is just the tip of the ice burg to get MP3’s. Theres lots of other places to get MP3’s.
Sure there’s plenty of places to find MP3’s, but how many are reliable? Before I heard about Napster I spent more time looking than I actually did downloading — found an Italian site that was decent though. But I am encouraged by the posts above. I had heard there were similar sites to Napster but didn’t know details.