Music to Your Mac
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core 8GB kit $232 / 4GB kit $116 / 2GB kit $72. New Macbook 2GB DDR3-$65. HARD DRIVES available -- Free shipping / LIfetime warranty.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
- 2001.08.24
Do you spend hours a day listening to music? Do you wish that Napster were still around so you could get that music?
How about if I told you that you can still get MP3 files. It's easy. In fact, there are a number of programs that will allow you to download MP3 files.
One solution is to use the Gnutella service. This service lets you download not just MP3s, but application files, movies, and other documents. Probably the most popular program that will connect you to the Gnutella servers is called LimeWire. The PC version is pretty good, but I can't say the same for the Mac version. It's a poor quality port from Windows, very slow (if you don't have a G3 it will be almost impossible to use), and tends to be extremely unstable.
LimeWire is pretty easy to use. Just open up LimeWire (it takes a while), type the song you want in the search box (I tend to use the "artist- title" format. For example, if you wanted "So Far Away" by Stabbing Westward, you would type "Stabbing Westward- So Far Away" in the search box), select "Audio files" in the pull down menu next to the search box, and click search. Pretty easy.
To download a file, double-click it, and the download will appear in the download manager at the bottom of the LimeWire window.
There is another application out there a bit like Napster. It's called AIMster, and it's not only a music transfer service, but an instant message client as well. This program is fast and stable on even older PowerPCs. I run it with no problems on my Power Computing PowerBase/180, which has a 180 MHz 603ev.
To use it, simply launch AIMster, register a username and password (as with Napster), and click Connect. Once you are connected to the service, you can type the name of the song you are looking for into the search box. Press Return to generate results, which come up much faster than in LimeWire. To download a file, simply double-click it. To view the status of the file you downloaded, select the file manager tab from the series of tabs on the top of the main window.
Of course there is also Hotline. This program is somewhat like LimeWire, except that it has almost any file that you could think of on it. Hotline is a little different in that you don't actually share files with each other; you access someone else's file server. You can get MP3s off of Hotline, but you have to be patient, because it often takes a long time to search through separate servers. To use Hotline, you create a user name and log onto their network. Then you go back into your Web browser and go to the Hotline HQ tracker website, where you can search the currently running servers for the file that you want.
There is also another app similar to Hotline that many people don't think of. Carracho is very similar to Hotline in the way it works and also has servers that you connect to. It's a bit harder to find the files you want, and there are fewer servers than Hotline.
Out of all of the programs I mentioned, AIMster is definitely my favorite. It is stable, fast, and there are a lot of files, so that if one download doesn't work out, there will be another one to try.
What about playing an MP3? What would you use? Well, if you haven't kept your old MP3 player, there are a number of MP3 players to try. My favorite is Apple's own iTunes, which runs on Mac OS 9 or later (and if you get a patch for it, you can run it on versions as low as 8.0). However, unless you have at least a 160 MHz computer (Performa 6360 or faster), iTunes will probably be too slow for you. In this case, I recommend GrayAmp, which can be downloaded from EckySoft. It even runs on a 6100/60! The only requirements are System 7.5 with the Apple Appearance Manager (or Mac OS 8, which shipped with the appearance manager).
Have fun downloading and listening to music! And remember, if you like an artist and the songs that you downloaded, you might consider supporting the artist (okay, I know that most of it goes to the record companies, but stillÖ) and buying the CD or cassette.
Editor's note: Low End Mac does not condone copyright violation. Some of the links below discuss the legal and ethical side of file sharing; others will help you get the most out of your MP3s.
Further Reading
- Picking MP3 software, Evan Kleiman, Mac Daniel, 2001.05.29. Choosing the MP3 software that best fits your style.
- More MP3 software, Evan Kleiman, Mac Daniel, 2001.06.27. Lesser known MP3 software for the Macintosh.
- Connecting your Mac to your stereo, Charlie Ruggiero, Mac Daniel, 2001.06.25. How to connect your Mac and stereo for better sound - and so you can record from your stereo to your Mac.
- Software piracy and the Mac, Eric DeStefano, Mac Metamorphosis, 2000.09.18. A look at copyrighted software illegally posted on the Internet, also known as "warez," from a Mac perspective.
- Copyright or copy wrong?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2001.05.22. Copyright, MP3s, Napster, DVS, DeCSS, RIAA, MPAA, and who controls the digital future.
- Loss vs. harm, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2001.08.15. Intellectual property theft: Where's the harm? Where's the loss?
- Theft in the computer world, Andrew W. Hill, 2001.08.13. How is stealing MP3s or software different from stealing a loaf of bread?
Recent Apple Archive articles
- iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
- Options for replacing your older iPod, 11.19. Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
- Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 11.14. The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
- Leopard different, a bit buggy, but worth the upgrade, 11.02. Leopard on a Power Mac G4 and a MacBook Pro: It runs well on both computers, but each has some odd bugs, and some of the changes are a step backwards.
- More in the Apple Archive index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 'Sawtooth' Power Mac G4, Aug. 1999 - Available in speeds from 350-500 MHz, 'Sawtooth' introduced AGP video to the Mac.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- The Long Term Value of a High End Mac, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 11.21. Low-end Macs are more affordable up front, but the flexibility and upgrade options of a top-end Mac can make it the better value in the long run.
- iPhone #1 Worldwide, Google Voice Search for iPhone, iPhone 3G Battery Pack, and More, iNews Review, 11.21. Also British accents throw off Google voice search, lots of new iPhone apps, universal USB car charger, new protective cases, and more.
- 15 Reasons Macs Are Better, Quad-core iMac in January?, USB 3.0 Spec Finalized, and More, Mac News Review, 11.21. Also 25 years of Macs, 'Snow Leopard' in Q1?, SimpleTech's faster and greener hard drive, Hyperspaces, StarOffice for OS X, and more.
- DisplayPort Copy Protection, Trackpad Update, Netbooks Not to Be Taken Lightly, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.21. Also Apple set for record sales, 4-finger gestures on original MacBook Air, MacBook Apple's best consumer notebook to date, Cricket laptop stand, bargain 'Books from $490 to $2,299, and more.
- Virtualization Shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
- Just Right: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear MacBooks, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 11.20. Some people like small and light notebooks, others prefer huge desktop replacements, but the best value tends to be in the middle.
- Apple Caves to Hollywood with DRM on iTunes Videos, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. HDCP on the new MacBooks means that you may never really own those videos you buy from the iTunes Store.
- Leopard Runs Very Nicely on PowerPC Macs, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 11.19. Some claim that Mac OS X 10.5 is so optimized for Intel Macs that it runs poorly on PowerPC hardware. That's simply not the case.
- No High Definition iTunes Video for You, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 11.19. The October 2008 MacBooks are preventing users from viewing some high-def iTunes content from being viewed on their external displays. Poor form!
- Every Working Computer Is Useful to Someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
- 3 WeatherBug Options for Apple Users, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.19. Have instant access to current local weather conditions with a Dashboard widget, iPhone app, or Firefox plugin.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used 400 MHz, $50; 733, $100; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, $300; 800 MHz dual, $200, 867, $300; 1 GHz, $350; 1.42, $400.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, 11.20. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 800 CD, $180; 600 CD-RW, $240; 700 Combo, $290; 900, $369; 14" 600, $360; 900, $449.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
- Best iMac G4 Deals, 11.18. Used 15" 700 MHz Combo, $243; 800 MHz, $280; 1 GHz, $380; 17" 1.25 GHz SuperDrive, $400; 20", $549.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.18. New 1.6 80, $1,150 after rebate; 120, $1,744 a/r; 1.8 80, $1,794 a/r; 1.6 128 SSD, $2,150; used 1.8 64 SSD, $1,500; new, $2,200 a/r; 1.86, $2,398 a/r.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, 11.18. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $58; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- Best iPod nano Deals, 11.17. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $114; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $125; 3G/8 GB, from $134; 16 GB, from $189. Prices include ground shipping.
- Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.17. Used 1 GHz with SuperDrive, $478 plus shipping.
- Best Xserve deals, 11.17. Used G4/1 GHz, $999; G5/2 GHz, $1,288; new 2.0 4-core Xeon, $1,900; refurb 3.0 4-core, $2,599; 2.8 GHz, $2,499; 3.0 8-core, $3,499.
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
