When choosing where to buy your music online, you may want to pay attention to the following criteria when rating online music vendors.

• Price: How much will you pay for a track or for an entire album? Is there free music on hand? Do you have to pay a membership fee?
• Format: Many people prefer MP3, but other formats can offer better sound. For example, Apple's iTunes Music Store offers downloads in Apple's higher quality AAC format. Also, there is Windows Media Audio (or WMA), which delivers quality equal to (and often better than) MP3. While a number of MP3 players support the WMA format, it has an extreme level of digital "copy protection."
• Library size: Although "Afternoon Delight" may not be on your hit list, everyone wants a large selection of music to choose from, and many vendors offer a surprisingly limited library.
• Search features: How simple and straightforward is it to search for the music you want to hear?
• Convenience: How easy is it to navigate a vendor's site? Can you hear a decent preview before you buy? Are your login ID and password saved for future visits?