Plasmatico. you're not alone in feeling a bit overwhelmed. If it helps, here are some links to sites that I've been reading from:

FLAC: http://flac.sourceforge.net/
Lots of information about FLAC plus advice about and comparison with other compression tools. Also points to devices that use FLAC. (For people interested in MP3 players but not willing to accept the compressed sound of iPod, etc., there are some MP3players which use FLAC.) The Download page will help you a lot, I think.

FLAC format page: http://FLAC.sourceforge.net/format.html
A detailed description of the FLAC format

AUTOFLAC: http://www.legroom.net/modules.php?...index&page=software&app=autoflac
A tool that integrates the use of FLAC with EAC; lots of other material to help "understand why" and alternatives to AutoFlac.

Illustrate: http://www.dbpoweramp.com/
dBpoweramp site. They have a tool for ripping CDs and show a comparison with various other products of speed to copy. Their product is easily the fastest. Not sure about accuracy but still reading...

The links included in these sites should give you loads of food for thought and I hope it helps.

Regards,
Steve

Steve