mp3 player phobic

[squash500]

I'm afraid of mp3 players. I've never used one before and I am a computer beginner. I recently got this coby model mp-c7095 as a gift. I realize that it is quite a cheap brand.

The problem I'm having is that the mp3 player comes with an installation cd but my cd-dvd 16x rom drive is broken--lol. I have a 3 year dell desktop computer. Should I just forget about an mp3 player for now? Should I get the cd-dvd rom drive fixed? I'm afraid that I might get ripped off if I take the computer into the future shop etc.

I'm also afraid that the coby mp3 player is garbage? Any comments would be appreciated! I'm also a furthur disaster in the mp3 area because I only have 4 cds I could transfer to mp3 anyway. I'm also afraid to use free sites such as limewire because of the virus potential.

Right now, I'm playing one of my 4 cds on my sony walkman cd player when I go for my walks ---lol. Last thing, if I do decide to get the cd-rom drive fixed how much would it cost? After getting the cd-rom drive fixed should I buy an ipod? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just finding the whole mp3 player thing quite intimidating!

 

[basketcase]

You could probably download the instalation files from the company's web site. Since you have a player, you might as well try it out before spending more money for an ipod.

As for music, there are many ways to get music safely. There are a few company's that will sell mp3's online, as well as various systems like limewire, and torrents. I've mostly used torrents to get my music recently and had no problems. If the files come as mp3 instead of rar there is very little risk. The neatest thing is that in Canada it is 100% legal to download songs as long as you burn them onto recordable media. (some agreement back in the cassette days had the government collecting a tarrif on blank tapes that is supposed to go to the music industry - even though they haven't payed out a cent last I heard and that you can burn 1000 songs for a few cents tarrif. Unfortunately this doesn't apply to movies or software)

 

[squash500]

Thanks for the response rub . I guess that coby is a piece of garbage? If I go with your suggestion does that mean that I don't have to get my cd-dvd rom drive fixed? Thanks again for your good suggestions!

 

[squash500]

You could probably download the instalation files from the company's web site. Since you have a player, you might as well try it out before spending more money for an ipod.

Thanks for your suggestions as well BC . I guess what you are saying is that this would be one way to circumvent getting my cd-dvd rom drive fixed?

 

[squash500]

Go to Future Shop/Best buy and buy a 1 gig ipod Shuffle for $49 http://www.apple.com/ca/ipodshuffle/ along with an iTunes pre-paid card for say $50 to start.

Rub, I just called Apple tech support. I only have 256mb ddr sdram at 400mhz. the Apple tech rep said that I need at least 512mb of ram to run itunes properly . I guess I will have to get my ram updated on my computer. Thanks again rub for the good advice!

 

[DistantVoyeur]

The only thing I would add to this thread is that if it is in the budget go for a classic of a nano if you like chosing your music. Can also use it as a telephone book, reminder alarm, clock etc.
The shuffle is a good cheap entry, but using a classic or nano is much better imho. Especially if you love music.
btw I have a 8gb nano with 450 songs on it and it is not even 1/4 full yet. Too lazy to fill it and still way more than any old CD player for choice.

 

[GDLLover]

Rubm... is right about sinking too much money into that older computer to upgrade memory (older memory is very expensive). If you want a new computer I recommend you look here to save money if thats what route you decide, sounds like even a new entry level comp around $300 would do what you want and much more. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/

PS. no I don't own the store so i'm not push it, i'm cheap and found this store to be cost effective with no problems to this point.

GDL

 

[squash500]

You know Squash, it sounds like your machine has pretty much earned its keep and might not be worth putting more money into.

I agree . I find that a lot of these computer places try to rip me off because they can tell that my computer knowledge is very weak--lol.

Here are the brief specs on my current computer. It was bought in august 2005. I paid $749 for it. It's a Dell desktop dimension 3000 series. It has an intel celeron processor 330 (2.66 GHZ) and 256k cache. It has 256MB ddr sdram at 400 mhz.

You're right. I might as well start saving for a new pc. My monitor is still pretty good. Future shop was quoting me some ridiculous prices to fix my cd-dvd rom drive. I can just imagine what they would charge to upgrade the ram?

Rub, you have my personality pegged perfectly. Due to my Aspergers I like to keep things as simple as possible--lol. That coby piece of garbage would probably have frustrated me to no end.

I'm on a tight budget, so I will start checking out different computers. Thanks again for your good insight Rub! You can sense from my previous posts that I can get aggravated quite easily over things. For myself, simpler is definitely better.

When I decide to buy a new computer, I will for sure ask for fellow terbites opinions before I make a big mistake.

 

[squash500]

Rubm... is right about sinking too much money into that older computer to upgrade memory (older memory is very expensive).

Thanks for your response . Out of curiousity, how much would it cost to upgrade the ram on my computer? See computer specs above. Price would also have to include installation as I don't know what I am doing--lol. Also, would you happen to know how much it would cost to repair a broken cd-dvd rom drive? I know for sure that it is a hardware issue.

Thanks for the tiger direct suggestion. I am cheap as well as I hate getting ripped off---lol.

 

[bogo]

Very cool Rub, being there for fellow terbs.

 

[GDLLover]

Squash, You could go 2 ways:

512 MB at 36.99 or 1 GB at 54.99

I was quoted $7 to install memory in a laptop so I would expect similar price as installing in desktop isn't really more difficult.

All this being said, you do want to decide to upgrade or not and if you do decide to upgrade ram I highly recommend the 1 GB option (this is the max your system can handle) as the memory will also speed up windows big time. I would guess windows takes approx. 15 min to boot for you now, with the 1 GB option you'll be ready in approx. 5 min or less.

Hope this helps

GDL

 

[squash500]

All this being said, you do want to decide to upgrade or not and if you do decide to upgrade ram I highly recommend the 1 GB option

Yes it does help . GD, do you mean that my system could hold 1GB of ram total or 1GB + 256mb=1.256GB.

I called tiger direct and they're going to send me out a catalogue. Thanks for that tip. Last thing, would you know in general terms how much it would cost to replace a cd-dvd rom drive including labour. Thanks again for your help GDL!

I'm just trying to weigh out all of my options. To basically figure out which would be cheaper. To buy a new computer or to do these upgrades?

 

[WoodPeckr]

Do it yourself, it's not that hard

Thanks for your response . Out of curiousity, how much would it cost to upgrade the ram on my computer? See computer specs above. Price would also have to include installation as I don't know what I am doing--lol. Also, would you happen to know how much it would cost to repair a broken cd-dvd rom drive? I know for sure that it is a hardware issue.

Thanks for the tiger direct suggestion. I am cheap as well as I hate getting ripped off---lol.

Tiger direct used to have excellent guides on how to do PC repair & upgrades yourself.

Maxing out your memory is the best thing you can do.
It speeds up everything, makes an older PC seem like new again.
I ordered 4GB of memory from www.Newegg.com (which now is available in Canada) to max out my laptop for <$70.
Putting that memory in yourself is easier in a laptop than a desktop.

You don't repair faulty cd-dvd rom drives, you just replace them for ~$30-$50 with probably a better drive than you now have. Again swapping the bad for a brand new drive is not that hard and Tiger direct used to have excellent tutorials on how to do this yourself.

 

[GDLLover]

Woodpeckr is right they just swap out the CD-ROM and the memory.

Your system has 2 memory slots so you can only go to max 1 GB with Dual Channel DDR PC3200. You old memory can't be used.

If your computer does what you want and want to add the iPod. Upgrading the memory and CD-ROM makes sense. If you want to do more advanced stuff like video or current release games save up for the new computer.

GDL

 

[squash500]

Your system has 2 memory slots so you can only go to max 1 GB with Dual Channel DDR PC3200. You old memory can't be used.

Thanks GDL . Good explanation. Thanks to woodpeckr as well!