I often see catters engaging in long discussions about which one is the best of anything. What's the best guitar, whistle, tuner, or program?

Well, these questions have no easy answer. Different people have different needs, and different products have their quirks. Also, somehow the advice proffered usually seems to recommend the most prestigious and expensive of everything.

For example, have you ever seen the ratings of food processors in Consumer Reports? One shreds carrots well but doesn't slice radishes evenly. Another is great on radishes but is not so hot on pureeing split peas. Another processes everything uniformly but is hard to clean. etc etc When all is said and done, you might as well buy the one that's on sale, because none is perfect.

Of course, there may be one that didn't slice anything right and finally electrocuted the engineer, but let's face it, that's pretty rare. Products today come with implied warranty, which means that they do what they're supposed to do. If they don't, the maker goes under.

People can spend so much time trying buy the perfect instrument or the perfect program that they don't have time left to make music. Don't fall into that trap.