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that I used the 'trial version' of Plus (like your friends, and what happened to them must therefore have happened to me, instead of what I said). The caveat I gave above WAS for the paid version--not it's 'trial'. Most of the d-loaders mentioned here have a price, as well. I *bought* RealPlayerPlus ($49.95 as I recall), and it was trumpeted as a one-time charge. I was having issues with Roxio at the time, and RPP had the ability to use my burner, so I purchased it...Once purchased, I've been dunned for the 'upgrades' to RealPlayerPlus (for 'another' $50 each time), on every re-start. I spent 3hrs being 'helped' by a bored, patronizing East Indian the last time RPP stopped working on my machine (for not paying the NEXT 'one-time charge'), and he eventually, reluctantly uninstalled/reinstalled the version for which I'd paid already. My entire 'RealPlayerDownloads' folder had no audio, and was being held hostage for another payment (exposing the LIE in their initial marketing of the 'premium service'). The little weasel on the phone from afar admitted as much to me before we were through, and the version for which I had paid *was* restored, but only because I called them on their SALES LIE...to their *paid* customers. Mine 'works fine'----as long as I remember to refuse the update (which doesn't even mention that there's ANOTHER charge until after the installation has started!). Maybe you think you (and us) should also be charged by MS every Patch Tuesday for 'necessary' updates to a product for which you already paid. I don't....Nor do I think it's very bright of you to extrapolate others' experiences with *paid-for* products based on your friends' experiences with *free* versions. That IS what happened to me, and doubtless to others--no amount of anecdotal 'friends' experience' with the free trial is germane to that. No amount of apologists for RealPlayer lining up to deny it here change that, either. I recommend you invest in the 'Plus' version, then wait a few months until you hear from them with their hand out again, before you condescend to my experience with it. Meanwhile, I (and real.com's far-away help-desk log) stand by my warning about their proclivity to keep charging their 'Plus' customers for what they were told was a one-time fee. I'm trying to save TR members a 3hr phone call--or having real.com's hand in their pocket long after they *bought* the product. Maybe that type of behavior is what kept them off this article's list. Maybe you can shoot the messenger of 'bad news about RealPlayerPlus'; but that does NOT change their dishonest marketing strategy....