I ticked "yes".

However, I've not used it much.

The bandwidth concerns were quite serious at first, but I've monitored it and it never uploads a significant amount. This may be because I listen to less popular stuff, or maybe my firewall, or maybe who knows?

What I do know is that it starts playing tracks only a fraction of a second after you choose them, which is unlike most on-demand free services. The adverts are not annoying when you compare it to local radio, and the library is fairly extensive if far from complete. It's a very fine service for the price (free).

I use last.fm and Youtube a lot more though.

I don't use it. I have a 32GB iPod, which has my complete music collection on, I haven't listened to any music on it yet... I've just used it for listening to podcasts at the moment...

I really don't do music much these days. I listen to the radio, mainly, in the car I listen to the radio and tend to wish the DJs would talk more and play less music - and given the donkey droppings that generally tends to pass as music these days...

In fact, for the last few days, I've been driving with the radio switched off.

I use it pretty extensively for things I haven't got as far as buying yet.

I also use it in work (JANET connection all the way) as that way my iPhone battery doesn't take a pounding on a regular basis.

Not really, last.fm has more of a community element to it, there's video's on there, it tracks what you are playing and puts it on your profile for others to see and also links to 7digital and itunes should you want to buy the track you have just listened to. Plus it'll suggest similar artists you may like.

With Spotify, the Windows software is broken - well, it doesn't work well on Vista x64 (it wants you to install it using user privaleges, but the installer requires admin privaleges), there is no linux software, but the mac version works reasonably well. With last.fm the software works well on all 3 platforms, scrobbles your stuff and plugs itself into itunes or WMP.

Spotify lets you listen to full tracks, Last.fm doesn't always. So last.fm is better for stuff you already have, Spotify is better for stuff you don't have!

Spotify will scrobble to last.fm too.

Plus, we have an X404 Last.fm group...

Ok, threadjack. Hit me with last.fm. Why should I use that? I don't like the fact that it's owned by CBS, but I'm open to being persuaded. What's it all about?

When you play a track in iTunes, WMP, and other supported media players it sends details to the server. That way, it keeps a record of what you have listened to and can make recommendations to you based on what other people who seem to share a common theme also like to listen to.

It works well. There is also last.fm radio, where it plays tracks to you that it thinks you will like.

You can use the data that is scrobbled for all sorts of stuff. I use mine for my sig. As soon as I listen to a track in iTunes it will update.

Cool. So what if I use Winamp (which I do)? Also, what about privacy etc?

Winamp scrobbles too.

I think it sends your bank details to the mafia, but otherwise I've not heard of any security concerns. If you want to listen to something in private then you can always just close it.

I love it. I've found quite a few new bands through their recommendations.

Same here.

And as for privacy, well it isn't private at all.

People can view your account and see what you have been listening to, and your data will be analysed by the system so it can help to recommend artists to other users.

Also, I believe they sell the data (this is how they make their money). But, they don't sell contact details or anything, just listening habits and I'm almost certain they don't share anything personally identifiable. I'm sure their website has details on it.

Overall, I think it's worth it.

I voted yes.

Spotify actually does run on Linux fine via Wine. I had it running with no issues at, all installation and use under Ubuntu 8.04. Just upgraded the machine to 9.04 and haven't got round to reinstalling it.

That said I have two issues with it. There are albums missing from artists but that may be in part at least as I've little interest in more recent artists. Second sound quality is a bit variable and it isn't the PC, speakers or headphones I use. It would seem some albums/tracks are being sampled at rather poorer rates than others. Whether that is the record company or Spotify I don't know but it is annoying and not that infrequent. (Actually there is a third issue but nothing to do with Spotify. The machine has onboard sound and a fairly elderly Soundblaster or similar and Ubuntu switches between the two somewhat randomly when booting leading to a dive under the desk to move the plug.)

Otherwise not a bad service to a point. For some reason on the free form I hadn't heard the stupid adverts for at least a month too. Bliss.

P.S. Just installed it on Ubuntu 9.04 with no issues. You might have to tweak the sound in Wine though.

Richard.

Just change the card being used from the volume control at the top of the screen.

I resent needing to use Wine for something, when an alternative/rival provides native support and arguably better features.

Yes we use it a lot.

If a singing student asks CK if a song is suitable for them it is a great way to audition it.

I use iTunes more, but I preview an album before I buy via Spotify. (I use Amazon to buy the actual CD)

+1. I used it around the time it first became widely known about but there was a lot of music I wanted to listen to that weren't there, so I got rid of it.

I use it to listen to stuff I'm interested in buying, there's nothing worse than buying an album only to find out you only like 3 tracks

most of my music taste can be picked up <£5 on amazon and deleivered in a few days, a price im willing to pay for audio quality/hardware acceleration through winamp/a hard copy in case my PC dies. i tend to use last.fm for listening to the odd track i dont have, and i have widgets linking to their scrobbling service on my myspace (widget worked, no longer used), bebo (no longer used, widget never worked anyway) and facebook (three tabs open right now, widget works perfectly)