Apparently ram for your machine runs around $30 for 256MB sodimms, and $80 for 512MB SoDimms.

For future reference...OWC's page on prices for your model: [link]

Yeah. I'm thinking I need to just go with the 512, but THEN what? Many of the external dvd drives I've seen are just too expensive.

The buckage mounts...100 memory, 200 dvd drive min., 130 Tiger, plus plus.

I was just hoping the upgrade would not cost uphill of $500.

eta: thanks for the link! Sigh.

I've seen specials on external DVD +-R CDRW dual-layer burners with USB and Firewire that are in the $80 range, after rebate.

No WAY! That's a deal I gotta find.

OTOH? Circuit City had a deal going on for a less-known brand with 2 year warranty...fot $89 after mail in rebate ($129 before) just two weeks ago.

Mad Dog Multimedia MegaStor™ External DVD Drive >(MD-16X3DVD9-8XE)

Triple-format: Create music CDs, burn up to 9.4 GB of data on one >double-sided DVD-RAM disc, or burn up to 8.5 GB of data on one >double-layer DVD±RW disc. The MegaSTOR™ Triple Format supports >any single or double layer DVD±RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R or CD-RW media.

Roxio™ software bundle

USB 2.0/FireWire®

[link]

ETA: Rebate seems over, but who knows? I recommended this to a friend of mine, and it works like a charm, he says.

Oh, and keep an eye on the dealnews site for specials: [link]

If you are spending more than about $300 on the computer then you should take a serious look at a Mac Mini. Refurbed models tend to pop up in the $400-$600 range every couple of weeks and it would pretty much upgrade all of the parts of your system at once. You'd need a monitor, but you can probably get one for free if you check Craigslist or Freecycle in your area.

I'd not run Tiger on less than 512MB of memory. Even with 512, if you run more than a few apps you'll feel a slowdown, and on an older machine with a fragmented hard drive or fuller hard drive you'll feel the slowdown even more. I don't like running Tiger on less than 1 GB of RAM at this point.

Also, you can get Tiger on CD. If you go to This Page you can see to the right that there is a media exchange form that you can download and Apple will exchange your install DVD for install CD's.

That's good advice Drew. Probably the way I'll need to go. It seems practical. And, I hate the waste of having two perfectly functional machines (iMac and eMac) that are technical paperweights now that the OS has advanced.

Thanks for the great links Daniel. I'd SO love to not have to give up my current machines.

Frustrating.

is there an easier way to enter URLs for podcasts if you want to listen to them through Tivo? it is a pain in the ass to enter it in character by character through the remote.

Yes, it is a pain. You can save them as a favorite, but you need to enter them character by character the first time.