Gone East

Apple's Online Music Biz

Billboard.com: "Observers are calling the launch of Apple Computer's digital music service the iTunes Music Store an overwhelming success, Billboard Bulletin reports. The service, which went live Monday, sold an estimated 275,000 tracks at 99 cents apiece in its first 18 hours, according to major-label sources."

I think this could be the "proof of concept" for digital distribution that moves us past the tipping point for online sales of creative works.

I do worry a little about Apple in this though. The Billboard piece quotes Apple as saying that a Windows version of iTunes is coming later this year. The iApps have been a very important differentiator to attract people to Mac hardware. If they are also available on Windows why buy a Mac? *I* know the why, but I'm not sure that the first-time computer buyers, and potential switchers do.