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No shirt, no shoes, no service? Not with online music. Downloading music from the Internet allows instant gratification without the distraction of searching for your clean laundry. Numerous services have emerged to provide users with legal sources for good quality, complete song downloads, making new music downloading easy and fun for even novice Internet users -- at a price.

Confused about compression options?

Take a minute to understand the lingo.

MP3: Just about every player supports this "Industry Standard" in compressed music files, especially when downloading from the Internet. The format gives you the most options in terms of encoders and playback software on your computer.

WMA: This is Microsoft's proprietary format. It is a quality format but currently is not supported by as many players as MP3.

AAC: Apple's proprietary format is intended for use with Apple's iPod and iTunes software, and little else. Any tunes you download from Apple's iTunes online music store will be encoded in this format.

Ogg Vorbis: This format is an open source compression format reputed as having very good sound quality. It has somewhat limited player support.

ATRAC: This is Sony's proprietary compression format for use on Sony players such as the Network Walkman (NW-HD1).

But that's okay since each service offers different benefits, ranging from format of music, ability to burn music to CD or to export songs to portable MP3 devices, and even the scope and type of music offered. In other words you have options that are relatively affordable, the current standard among music services is to offer songs at an a-la-carte, per-song download price (usually, about US$1), with entire albums available at a flat rate as well. Some services also offer subscriptions to their song libraries, allowing a certain number of downloads per month or the ability to play music streams directly from the Web site.

Here are a few things to look at when shopping for an online music service:

Find out if the service you are interested in is compatible with your MP3 player device since some services work with a variety of devices, others work with only a few.
Consider what format the music can be downloaded. Does the service use a proprietary format that will restrict the music to be played solely on your computer, and not on your MP3 player or on a CD party mix? Look for formats such as Windows Media Audio (WMA) and MP3 for maximum portability.
What software and Internet access is required? Many services are PC-only or require specific operating systems, such as Windows XP. Streaming access is neat. if you have high-speed Internet access, such as a cable modem.
What use rights are given for your purchase? How many times can you burn a song, or a music stream, to CD? Does your subscription need to be current to play even songs you've downloaded in the past?
What is the sound quality of the downloaded music? If you're a true audiophile, you may be unsatisfied with the tracks from most services, which do not reach the quality level of a CD track, although most are of good quality for most uses.
Most importantly, what music is offered? Great pricing and open use of the music means nothing if all you can get is easy-listening polka covers of 70s disco favorites. Different services have different offerings, ranging from country to electronica to Christian rock.

Here are a few of the more prominent pay-to-play music services:

Apple iTunes Music Store

Mac users turned the iTunes Music Store into the first commercially successful pay-to-play music service, downloading nearly 10 million songs in the first four months of the service. Apple has rolled its iTunes software out to PC users, who can now take advantage of the popular iTunes software interface and online music catalog. The songs, in the proprietary AAC format, can be played on up to three computers, exported to Apple iPod music players, and burned to CD in CDDA (a standard audio format playable in all CD players) an unlimited number of times. The iTunes Music Store is supported for both PC and Mac users.

Sony's Connect

Sony's recently launched Connect Music service permits an unlimited number of transfers to portable players, with some exceptions. By downloading the latest version of their Connect Player, users can organize their music since the player is fully integrated with the Connect music store. The Connect Player also makes it easy to transfer music to Sony's family of compatible digital music players and to create both standard audio CDs and high-efficiency ATRAC CDs.

eMusic

eMusic is one of the oldest digital music subscription services still operating, and focuses on independent labels and lesser-known artists. eMusic offers subscribers two options, each for less than the cost of a double CD — either 40 downloads per month, or 65 downloads per month from their music library. Downloaded songs can be exported and burned without limit, and use the MP3 format. eMusic is supported for both PC and Mac users.

Musicmatch

Musicmatch, known for its popular Jukebox CD and MP3 software, now offers a free streaming radio service and a pay-to-play music download service. Users can download songs at a per-song or per-album rate, and play them on up to three PCs. Songs may also be burned to CD or exported to digital music players. The Musicmatch Jukebox also allows you to 'rip' your existing CDs to digital format. Musicmatch uses the WMA format, and is supported for PC users only.

Napster 2.0

Napster 2.0 launched in October to considerable fanfare, thanks to the name's notoriety. Napster offers music at a per-song or per-album rate, as well as a subscription model that will allow unlimited music streams and downloads, although use of those downloads is more limited and allows only limited CD burning and song portability to external players. Napster also plans to offer Napster music players, burnable media, and more. Napster is supported for PC users only.

Rhapsody

Rhapsody is principally a streaming music service, offering two levels of subscription access to more than 50 Internet 'radio' stations, as well as the ability to program your own based on artists you like. However, rather than downloading files to your own computer, you store your personal 'playlist' within your Rhapsody account - something of potential value to those with multiple Internet-connected computers, but not necessarily to subway riders wedded to their MP3 players. You can create CDs using your playlist, paying an additional per-track price (over and above your monthly subscription), skipping the download and going straight to your burner; however, not all songs eligible for streaming are eligible for burning. Rhapsody is supported for PC users only.

Yahoo! Music Engine

Yahoo! Music Engine offers Yahoo! Music Unlimited, a music download service powered by MusicNet. For an annual fee, users can stream or download an unlimited number of songs that are transferable to various portable devices supporting Microsoft's Janus digital rights management technology. Users can play tunes from a catalog of more than one million songs. Songs may also be shared with friends through Yahoo! Messenger. As with other subscription services, tunes will become unplayable if the subscription lapses but users can buy any song for a nominal fee. Downloads can be played on a total of five PCs or transferred to WMA-compatible portable devices. With LAUNCHcast, Yahoo's online radio service, Yahoo! Music Unlimited Subscribers have full access to more than 150 pre-programmed, commercial-free channels.

Wal-Mart Music

Note that the pricing and use of available music, even on current services, is subject to change, so always read the fine print carefully on any service you investigate, and be aware that the terms and conditions can change on little notice.