After reading Marc Pesce’s post: Unevenly Distributed: Production Models for the 21st Century (http://blog.futurestreetconsulting.com/?p=42) it brought back memories of my first personal computer which I purchased in 1998 and was connected to the Internet through dial-up and was happy to have it.  I began working on my undergrad degree through Morehead State University in January 1999 and really utilized my computer along with my wonderfully slow dial-up.  But what I remember the most about getting my new computer was Napster!  I remember how excited I was that there was a program out there where you could download songs (for free).  I have to agree with the post that dial-up was not the best way to get your songs because it took FOREVER and most of the time you would only get half of the song and then your computer would go offline. 

I found it very interesting that the concept (a legal version) to upload and download music was actually presented as early as 1994.  It really goes to show that timing is everything.  Another fact that I wanted to mention is that after all the problems with Napster and the lawsuits, that once a concepts is widely accepted on the Internet, that regardless of court rulings, etc.; this is beast that can’t be tamed.  Individuals are going to share/exchange data, information, and resources regardless of what laws are set forth and the question I would like to present is: what can really be done about it?  I think that the Internet is such a powerful force that even the government couldn’t shut it down if they wanted to!