Ever since Napster unveiled its new free music site -- songs can be played for free up to five times before a subscription or purchase is required -- the comments and coverage have been intense. Some don't think much of the poor sound quality. Others consider the ad-based royalties a breakthrough and an important first step in exploring alternative business models.

Coolfer's first few attempts to check out the new features were thwarted by a slow site -- traffic was obviously high. When I finally got an acceptable speed the free listening was a smooth experience. Regisration is required to stream tracks but no money changes hand unless the user wants to buy the track or sign up for a subscription to the music service (streams and tethered downloads).

High marks are given for the easy search process and the worry-free media player, which requires no software or installation. From a blogger's point of view, the best thing about the new Napster is that every song has a unique URL that can be emailed or embedded in a blog post. Other services don't have this, and it's a fantastic way to share music with others. (Coolfer will regularly include Napster links from now on.)

(To underscore the depth of the music catalog and what a far-reaching collection of music is now at people's fingertips, the media player pictured above shows that Napster has an album by French artist Benjamin Biolay -- two, actually -- that were never released domestically.)

On the downside, the audio quality is in the AM radio range, which means songs can be heard and previewed but not totally enjoyed. To hear the subtleties and richness in songs, a subscription is needed or the track would have to be purchased outright.

Select media commentary on the new Napster:

• The LA Times' David Colker lists his pros (search function) and cons (limited to five songs per play, can't build playlists.
• BusinessWeek.com gets experts' opinions on likelihood of success (not all are sold on it) and estimates of ad revenues.
• The Register shows its stripes in this biting criticism of Napster's portrayal of "its service as an open paradise."