Your computer has been playing music for years, one CD at a time. Now hundreds of songs can be stored efficiently in your PC if they’re in the MP3 format.
What is MP3?
MP3 compresses music into small computer friendly files. You access MP3 music several ways: Tunes can be downloaded from websites that have converted vast music libraries into MP3. Or you can pop prerecorded CDs into your PC and convert songs in minutes into MP3. Once MP3 music is on your PC’s hard drive, you can play it through your computer’s speakers, burn it into blank CDs or swap MP3 files with friends using email. You can also “rip”, or copy, MP3 files onto a portable MP3 player by plugging it into your PC. The music is stored on a computer chip.
How much you can load?
Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free. It comes pre-installed on most new computers or can be downloaded from many websites, including MP3.com. A high speed modem lets you download MP3 music much faster, but it isn’t required. Some MP3 sites are free. Just type “MP3 sites” into any search engine. Compact portable MP3 players start at around rupees 3000 and can hold hundreds of songs. A blank CD, costs about rupees 25 on which you can record music.
Advantages:
MP3 turns your home PC into a juke box. Tiny MP3 players are the size of a deck of cards, making it easy to take hundreds of songs with you. And you can listen to your favorite songs at any time and at any place without any hassles. Just you’ll have to charge your battery or chargeable cells to make it portable.
Disadvantages:
You may find that music at many sites is limited. And some only allow you to listen (“rent”) rather than download offerings. Others let you download music that can’t be copied to MP3 players. And a growing number of new CD’s make it possible to copy songs to a computer.
Bottom line:
MP3 is deal if you like customizing and listening to extensive mixes at home or while traveling. It’s also handy if you want to download a few choice songs from your favorite singers rather than purchase entire CDs or tapes. So when you goanna buy this sweet little thing for yourself or for your beloved.