Well no kiddin! Thats great, I've still been on the hunt, because the ones in the department stores are rare and when you do find one they are pricey. Alot more so than I expected. Right now, I have my eye on one on the internet and am saving up money for it. Also will be sifting through the flea markets in the mean time. Good luck to you

Yeah, all the ones that I have seen have been really expensive. I already have an amplifier so I may just get a turntable.

Do u want belt or direct drive?

From the research that I have been doing, direct-drive looks like a better option. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which is better? Is one better than the other? Or are they equal.

It's simple really.

If you're just playing records, belt driven is fine. If you have any DJ aspirations, direct is unquestionably the way to go.

Svengali is right. If your just playing records it doesnt matter. I mix so I use direct drive. If your into that sort of thing I buy all my gear off PSSL.com.

Get a Project Debut USB - top quality deck for budget price, and you can make mp3s from yr vinyl really easily (although why would you want to when vinyl is better yadda yadda...).

It plugs into a Line In - ie, you don't need a dedicated Phono in on your amp, because it's got a very reasonable little pre-amp on board - bit toppy, but fine for most amps where you can just crank the bass up a little.

Can't recommend enough - it's a great deck.

I'd go for a nice second hand technics with an S-arm if I were you.
Belt drive or direct drive doesn't really matter. Even an idler wheel machine can sound quite allright.
Most really audiophile players are belt drive though.
But really, it doesn't matter that much.
Overhere you can get a decent technics for as low as 15 dollars.
A bit better one (e.g. an SL-3310 of SL-Q3) would cost about 40 dollars.

But, it's not all that simple. You will need an amplifier that has a Phono input. A record player only gives a very, very little amount of sound compared to a CD player, you will need a 'preamplifier' as it's called. You can buy these, but most seperate amplifiers have one built in.

Then there's the cartrigde problem. I don't know how good your ears are, but the differences between cartridges (noob mode: That's the thing you stick the needle in) are huge. And then there's the problem of matching.

The Advise I give everyone who wants to start buying records is:
Buy a simple technics with an S-arm, buy an Audiotechnica AT95E cartrdige and, if you need a seperate phono preamp, don't go for the cheapest ones. This might be the most expensive part of your vinyl journey. Often an amplifier with built-in Phono preamplifier is way cheaper. Be advised.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

About the pro-ject mentioned above: It's value for money, but it's still low-budget. It is in no way better than a cheap-ass second hand technics (and I've tried, believe me ;)).

About Direct Drive/Belt Drive: None of those is better or more expensive. There's bad, cheap direct drive turntables and as I mentioned above, most really expensive (more than 2000 dollar) audiophile turntables are actually belt drive.

When in doubt: Don't buy anything that's made out of plastic and weighs the same as two packs of cigarettes. Look for wood and steel ;).

About needles (Styli), they are no problem whatsoever overhere, but I don't know what it's like where you come from.