Hello. I plan on purchasing one of the new versions of I mac. However before I do, I must know if there is any software that would allow me to copy songs in mp3 format on to my mac for free. Do you know of anything? Your help would be greatly appreaciated. Thank you.

Wow, You shure are brave! Coming into a musicians site, and asking how you can rip off their music. That is a vialation of copright laws, and is illigal.

Do you mean a free program that can copy songs from a CD to mp3?
If so, "iTunes" does that. It comes free with your mac or can be downloaded for free from apple.

Or do you mean a free program like Napster that is used for sharing mp3's between users i.e. copying songs from other users?

blah blah blah... ya know, technically speaking its not illegal to copy CD's that you "already own" to mp3 for backup purposes or to listen in a portable mp3 player or such... if it were, do you think the ipod and itunes would be such a hot item? So I don't see how you can "rip off" an artist by making mp3s from the CD that you already bought?

Yes, I know that they are trying to develop CDs that will not play on computers thus no ripping but as it stands today, the music industry is more worried about people downloading mp3's rather than ripping their own CD's... and I think you should give people some slack because not everyone is trying to "rip off" musicians.

I am a musician myself who happens to have a mp3 player in my vehicle... I rip all my new CD's to mp3 and burn 6-10 of them onto a CDR to play in my vehicle... its like having a cd changer in my dash plus I get to keep my original CDs at home in my 500+ collection so they will remain unscratched and in prime condition. Does that make my a thief? I think not

Kaboombahchuck, have you ever heard of "fair use"? It is perfectly legal to retrieve songs in mp3 format that you already own. The same is true with videogame emulators. Synthetic seems to understand this. I dont know why you think this would/should be illegal. I mean, last time I checked, CD sales were up inlight of all of the free software sharing programs. See ya 'round.

Let me make some things clear .
I have no problems with folks copying music for their own use. I do this for the similar reasons as synthetic. It would be rediculous to suggest someone go out and buy several copys of an album.
However, it is illegal to go to file sharing sites and get songs for free. Why do you think napster is no longer around... also, if you will notice, many of the file sharing sites have gone to a membership fee. This goes to pay for the music you are listening to (which IS required by law).
It is the musicians right to do with their songs whatever they want. If they want to charge for it, then they should get paid. It is not your right to steal from them. I will continue to bash all filesharing sites for that reason and others. For example, the site where I have my music, gives me all sorts of info. Which songs are liked the best, which countries like my songs, gives folks a chance to contact me with feedback. File sharing blinds tha artist to these facts, which causes them to not know where they should (or should not) sell their albums, tour, concentrate efforts.

So I appologise if you just wanted to know if apple has a free AIFF to mp3 converter (iTunes). It was a misunderstanding on my part.