mp3 for idiots

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pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#29234 30-Dec-2008 09:37

hey there , i work in a telecomunications store.. mostly selling cellphones and have recently spent the most frustrating 20 minutes of my life trying in vain to explain to a middle aged lady and her prepubescent son how to get their cds onto their computer in mp3 format (so they cold then put them on their phone) starting with "put your cd into the cd drive " and working onwards .... how do u explain to some the difference between mp3 format and wma format.. when they dont understand the word format

neway... i was wondering whether anyone had run across(or formulate) an easy to understand guide for putting cds onto the pc (in mp3 format) most likely using windows media player that i could print out and save myself some time and bloodpressure

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Nightwyrm

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#186633 30-Dec-2008 09:51

There's this guide for iTunes: iTunes 101

This one for WMP10: WMP10 Ripping

As for the file formats, perhaps you should recommend mp3 as it's universal whereas wma isn't as popular (and the quality's less IMO). You could always use the word "type" instead of "format", or liken formats to something commonplace like fruit ("now wmas are like banana and mp3s are like oranges")

Post-geek, opinionated mediaphile, and natural born cynic. Jack of all genres, master of none.

pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#186634 30-Dec-2008 09:58

fantastic, ive used the ole fruit analogy before and also the language one (these files are written in a language which your phone can read but these ones arnt) it all just seems too confusing for some people.nevermind.... lets see how they go with following written instructions

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Ausmerica

14 posts

Geek

#187095 2-Jan-2009 22:53

Here is some good beginneres stuff:

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/mp3.htm

riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 90

#187116 3-Jan-2009 07:56

Ask them if they have a neice, nephew, grandchild, neighbours kids about 10ish years old and get them over to show them. Unless they can see it happening in front of them, they'll never get it. Also even if they were to follow your explanation accuarately there will always be the odd issue (DRM, corrupt files, computer issues) that will screw it up and they will be back into the store getting you to fix that as well as it was your fault.