Make your computer sing
Last issue we looked at some of the less well-known features of iTunes. This issue I thought it might be fun to show you how to turn your computer into a wonderful stereo system and add a great portable MP3 player.
iTunes will be at the heart of each system as it makes finding, organizing, playing and getting music simple. iTunes is available free from Apple at: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/. It can be used on PC’s or Macs and you don’t need an iPod to take full advantage of having music available on your computer.
The Budget System
You can get a great basic computer from Dell Canada (www1.ca.dell/com) for as little as $319.00 plus the cost of a monitor. If you want a Mac you can grab a Mac Mini for $649.00 but you will need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Both these computers have a soundcard that would put to shame most expensive computers from only a few years ago. Purchase a set of Altec Lansing VS2120 speakers for $9.99 from Future shop and you’re rockin’. An iPod shuffle will set you back $89.00
The Midrange System
Moving up a bit gets you a bunch more and the iMac computer at $1,299.00 with Apples latest OS, the entire iLife Suite of programs including iTunes and a stylin’ keyboard and mouse. Why no PC? If you buy a Mac you can run Windows right on your iMac computer using Bootcamp. Plus you get hundreds of dollars of FREE software, what’s not to like? For speakers I’d look at a set of KRK Rokit Speakers with either a 5, 6 or 8-inch woofer and a soft dome tweeter. The 5-inch will cost you about $300.00. Add a subwoofer (KRK Rokit 10 inch powered subwoofer) at $300.00 and you have a powerful full-range system that would fill most rooms with great sound. Now add in a iPod nano ($169.00) and a set of iGrado headphones ($79.00) both from Advance Electronics and you have a terrific system for home and on that daily commute.
The Dream System
My Mac of choice here would be the MacBook Pro laptop at $2,199.00 or on the PC side how about the Dell M2010 Media Mogul laptop with a Blu-Ray disc player and a 20” LCD panel for $3,749.00? You’ll need to add an Griffin Elevator Monitor Stand ($39.99) and a Apple Cinema 30” flat panel monitor to use as your second monitor ($2,099.00). For speakers how about the Mackie HR824 near field monitor ($779.00 each). These have their own amps in each speaker and have been reference speakers at many recording studios since their release in 1996. Top it all off with a iPod Classic with a 160 Gig hard drive able to hold over 40,000 songs and a set of Bose Quiet Comfort noise canceling headphones ($399.00). Sweet!
That’s enough dreaming for one issue. Move that computer from the den to the living room and enjoy a wonderful digital jukebox experience.
Chris Brown
iTunes will be at the heart of each system as it makes finding, organizing, playing and getting music simple. iTunes is available free from Apple at: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/. It can be used on PC’s or Macs and you don’t need an iPod to take full advantage of having music available on your computer.
The Budget System
You can get a great basic computer from Dell Canada (www1.ca.dell/com) for as little as $319.00 plus the cost of a monitor. If you want a Mac you can grab a Mac Mini for $649.00 but you will need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Both these computers have a soundcard that would put to shame most expensive computers from only a few years ago. Purchase a set of Altec Lansing VS2120 speakers for $9.99 from Future shop and you’re rockin’. An iPod shuffle will set you back $89.00
The Midrange System
Moving up a bit gets you a bunch more and the iMac computer at $1,299.00 with Apples latest OS, the entire iLife Suite of programs including iTunes and a stylin’ keyboard and mouse. Why no PC? If you buy a Mac you can run Windows right on your iMac computer using Bootcamp. Plus you get hundreds of dollars of FREE software, what’s not to like? For speakers I’d look at a set of KRK Rokit Speakers with either a 5, 6 or 8-inch woofer and a soft dome tweeter. The 5-inch will cost you about $300.00. Add a subwoofer (KRK Rokit 10 inch powered subwoofer) at $300.00 and you have a powerful full-range system that would fill most rooms with great sound. Now add in a iPod nano ($169.00) and a set of iGrado headphones ($79.00) both from Advance Electronics and you have a terrific system for home and on that daily commute.
The Dream System
My Mac of choice here would be the MacBook Pro laptop at $2,199.00 or on the PC side how about the Dell M2010 Media Mogul laptop with a Blu-Ray disc player and a 20” LCD panel for $3,749.00? You’ll need to add an Griffin Elevator Monitor Stand ($39.99) and a Apple Cinema 30” flat panel monitor to use as your second monitor ($2,099.00). For speakers how about the Mackie HR824 near field monitor ($779.00 each). These have their own amps in each speaker and have been reference speakers at many recording studios since their release in 1996. Top it all off with a iPod Classic with a 160 Gig hard drive able to hold over 40,000 songs and a set of Bose Quiet Comfort noise canceling headphones ($399.00). Sweet!
That’s enough dreaming for one issue. Move that computer from the den to the living room and enjoy a wonderful digital jukebox experience.
Chris Brown
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