i spent the last week trying to find a sound card with a good rca dac and just couldn't pull the trigger on anything. i had a long write-up about it, but i've let it go, and i'll have to come back to it.
the new/old desktop is otherwise done, although it's less clear how i'll be arranging the audio for it
the cash is in, so i've gone ahead and bought a lot of things. i had to swap some sources around. it turns out it's easier to buy at amazon.ca than i thought, and almost impossible to buy at amazon.com.
so, i ended up buying more things at best buy and more things at ebay.
updated total:
airwalk shoes (payless): $33
bicycle repair (city cyclery): $23
3x40 gb ide hds (kijiji): $10
2x500 gb sshd laptop drives (best buy): $2x82
2 gb internal drive (best buy): $104
100 dvd-rs [best buy]: $30
50 bd-rs [best buy]: $45
2x2 gb laptop ram (amazon.ca): $2x15 + shipping, $47
8 gb sd ram for mp3 player (amazon.ca): $13
2 tb external drive (amazon.ca) : $123
50 cd-rs [amazon.ca]: $30
ps/2 to usb connector [amazon.ca]: $5
laptop battery (ebay): $22
2x4 gb laptop ram (ebay): $2x32
ip68 phone (ebay): 125
==================
830.99
that's exact, not rounded like above.
my max estimate was 881, but it included $80 for jewel cases (which i'll have to order tomorrow in the store) and $50 for a monitor. it didn't include the $56 i spent on day one. so, i'd be at $775.64 if you take day one out, and i'd be on track for $905.64, which mostly washes out in the extra $20 i sent on the phone. i can fix that by spending around $30 on the monitor tomorrow.
this is the phone i went with, and why i went with it:
tonight:
build the new studio desktop
tomorrow:
200 jewel cases [staples.ca]: $80 <------ buy in store
square monitor (pawn shop): <$50
massive groceries overhaul: $~200
later:
tv (kijiji)
table
bookshelves
guitar interface
usb soundcard out?
right now, i'm hungry.