For better of worse I've committed to a solution to my problem of ripping & encoding. I was able to borrow an Apple Wallstreet equipped with Sound Jam, and test ripping an encoding my problem track. The results were, compared to before, excellent.

So...

I've picked up an Apple Powerbook g3 series (wallstreet) from eBay. $865 wasen't too bad for a machine that originally sold for around 3g's. Overall I really like the Wallstreet, I would have preferred it have usb and firewire but for the price I can live with pcmcia cards, should they be needed.

Here is what's planned.

Hardware upgrades:
PowerLogics 500mhz BlueChip replacement cpu. (OS X compatable)
An MCE Xcarét Pro 2000 Expansion Bay CDRW.
At least 256mb ram.
20 or more gb drive internal
swapable 20gb (or more) drive for music files

Software: to start
MacOS 9.x
Sound Jam MP plus
jEmplode

For the near future, I'm leaning towards a single boot system based on OS X.
Thinking about lame. Also should more subtil problems with ripping crop up a Plexor scsi drive would be an EZ addition.

--Glenn

I welcome all to comment on this plan.