Newbie At The Start Point.., What looking for the start! Options

[flutejb]

Today i've received my FIRST mac, a great powerbook 12" 1,5 Ghz.
I'm a classical music musician and i'd like to rec my performance with a good quality...
So, i think i should buy an external HD, i thought for LaCie 100Gb.
But i absolutely don't know nothing about mic and ampli (or pre-ampli, i don't know the difference too..).
Can you help me? i would like to spend at max about 150-200 euro (200-250 $).
Who are so kindly to help me?
Thanks for your help

jb

[nickdaum]

I'm a newbie too (*the* clueless newbie) but I have a couple of advices:
* you probably don't need right now an external HD, 80GB is a good start;
* when you get one take good care it's silent, some are noisier than a desktop UC; it should have no fan;
* take a FireWire one, 7200 rpm; IMO which the vendor makes little difference;
* the other folks may be more savvy than I am but why don't get a mobile audio interface such as the M-Audio ones?
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=produc...obileinterfaces

It takes care of the usual weak link in the system: the A/D, D/A conversion. If you use a USB microphone you rely on the built-in converter of the computer which can't be as good as a professional one, although the Mac ones have a fairly good reputation.
I own the FW Solo model. It delivers the best sound I ever plugged on my amp, which is pretty good.
It has 2 connections: one XLR for a mike with phantom power, and one 1/4" for an electric instrument such as a guitar. It means you have all the choice of professional hardware to plug into it. If you go to a studio or any other professional environment to can use their mike instead of being obliged to install your own.

HTH

Nick