Beej, I've seen external DVD with CDRW externals using USB connectors for around $60 shipped on Froogle doing a quick search, so finding cheaper might be simply a matter of a little looking around.

Might even get a DVD writer of some format, and they usually have CDRW thrown in.

Firewire might be a little more expensive, but sometimes an external is both.

I'd check pricewatch.com, Froogle, maybe even eBay. In the next week a lot of people will be getting rid of their old computer stuff, because they got newer stuff for Christmas.

Thanks Dan, ebay is a good idea. I'm having trouble figuring out what I need...brands, etc. but I'm sure to find a upgrade cast off deal on ebay.

The eMac has OSX 10.1.?

I wonder if the Macmall Panther and iLife bundle ($100 after a $50 rebate) is worth it. Any thoughts?

So is there any reason I shouldn't install the iPod on my work computer before my home computer?

I'm not positive, but I think you can only "associate" an iPod with one computer.

Beej, I can't tell you really if it's worth it, but 10.3.x really is a corker of a platform, 10.1 was a bit new and not as efficient.

Even on my nephew's five year old G4/400 there was a marked increase in speed and workability between the two.

Also, the absence of useful software installed and lacking an up-to-date OS could explain your friend's decision to go to Windows.

How much RAM does the eMac have? That can make a difference, too.

Looks like I should probably establish my computer as the "home" computer first. Sigh.

I hate waiting.

So is there any reason I shouldn't install the iPod on my work computer before my home computer?

Go right ahead. While you can only sync an iPod with one copy of iTunes at a time, you can change it as often as you like,

Really? Not that I don't trust you, Rob, but I can go ahead and install it here, get my music off this computer, then go home and install iTunes there, establish it as my home computer, and have the music from my work computer still remain on my iPod?

But the music from work computer will not transfer to home computer, right? (Crash course in iPod FAQs this morning.)

Dan, The eMac is a 700MHz G4 with
256K on chip level 2 cache
128MB SDRAM
40Gig Ultra ATA hard disk drive

My friend thought he'd gotten the dvd drive too, until he got it home and nope! just the cd-rw. Not to be greedy (okay, this is totally greedy) but I wishwishwish he'd gotten the dvd!

Your comment about useful software installed hit the mark. My friend did not want to buy Office for OSX (neither do I for that matter...since my 2001 version works just fine), or any of the other software he uses regularly.

So. I'll take that as a ringing endorsement for Panther, eh?

I looked at the new features for Tiger (sheesh) but saw nothing that would blow my skirt up. Hopefully, they'll continue supporting Panther for a while!

Dana, I think if you do what you say, when you sync your iPod to your home computer all the stuff from work will be erased.