From: Fred Maxwell <rockbox_at_anti-spam.org>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 22:38:44 -0500

> > It doesn't automatically invoke the MP3 encoder.
>
> `Small tools that do one job well'. MP3 encoding is not its job. That's
> the job of scripts that wrap around it.

That would be fine if you could show that cdparanoia and the scripts
surrounding it did a better job than EAC. That doesn't seem to be the case,
however.

> (I think this is a Unix/Windows cultural difference.)

I have trouble looking at it that way when the crown jewels in the Linux
world are things like OpenOffice.org, Ethereal, and other GUI apps which
don't rely on scripts and cryptic command line interfaces.

But, one can do the scripting thing under Windows, too, using batch files,
scripting languages, etc. It's just that it's normally less convenient,
less intuitive, and more time consuming.

I like the fact that EAC automates the whole task of ripping and encoding
songs for my Archos Studio 10, my in-dash MP3 player, and my other MP3
playing devices. I like the fact that I don't have to find or create
scripts to make it work. If you like cdparanoia, that's fine, too. I
remain unconvinced that it is as accurate, reliable, flexible, and
convenient, but if it's what you like, more power to you.

Regards,
  Fred Maxwell
Received on 2004-01-05