ok thank you for all of your replies
one last question
is the 3500 really worth the 100 more bucks

here is the way i am looking at it keep in mind i am new

1. the smartmedia is better than floppies anyway... only bad thing is if you buy music books that come with floppies you will have to transfer files to smartmedia with computer... but not a prob

2. being new... i think i can suffice with a modulation button? huh?

3. the seperate L/R outputs plus the headphone port is the only thing that bothers me. If i get the 3000 though and i get a good cable that goes from the 1 1/4 inche plug to 2 1/4 inch plug wont that be the same thing? because on the plugs arent the l/r channels divided anyway? and for me if i use headphones/external speakers i wont need the onboard speakers right?

thanks
DirOFCIA