Sound Recording?

[markocosic]

I'd quite like to record seminars and conversations with people on factory floors for reference purposes, and get them into an MP3 format on my PC.

What're the easiest and cheapest ways to do this?

Was thinking a minidisc off ebay, mic, lead to line-in on the PC (cheap?)
MP3 player/recorder and mic (easy?)

I've never owned a tape/cd/minidisc/mp3 player so wouldn't have the first clue which are any good/use! Ideally there'll be something with a built-in mic out there? Ability to record a day's (week's?) worth of mono audio and use AAA/AA batteries (battery?) I can buy/charge in bulk would be good. Cheap is good, but not if it'll not pick up the audio I'm after.

Model/Source Suggestions?

[markocosic]

I'd quite like to record seminars and conversations with people on factory floors for reference purposes, and get them into an MP3 format on my PC.

What're the easiest and cheapest ways to do this?

Was thinking a minidisc off ebay, mic, lead to line-in on the PC (cheap?)
MP3 player/recorder and mic (easy?)

I've never owned a tape/cd/minidisc/mp3 player so wouldn't have the first clue which are any good/use! Ideally there'll be something with a built-in mic out there? Ability to record a day's (week's?) worth of mono audio and use AAA/AA batteries (battery?) I can buy/charge in bulk would be good. Cheap is good, but not if it'll not pick up the audio I'm after.

Model/Source Suggestions?

[markocosic]

Had a good PM from another forum.

On the offchance anybody else wnats one I've just gone and bought a Creative 'Muvo' widget - MP3 player/recorder with built in mic (can't forget it/break it), built in USB plug (can't forget/break the lead) and runs off one AAA battery (can get anytime/anywhere and carry cheap spares)

"v100" players are USB 1 only.
"V200" players are USB1/USB2, and have a radio built in.
"N200" players are like the v200, but smaller/sexier. They have a line-in too, but don't have a built-in USB plug so need a separate lead.

~20GBP on ebay.