Many computers will allow you to connect via the headphone jack. On the Apple MacBook that jack is an in/out jack and will let you record vinyl using even the built in Garage Band. Or you can download free and good software from Audacity or Final Vinyl. But if you want better interface and thus even better overall fidelity and versatility between a computer and the turntable it's better to buy an outboard Digital I/O with a built in ADC and DAC. These can be affordable starting at around $100 and up. I bought a Tascam 122MKII and it interfaces nicely with my MacBook. The Apogee Duet (exclusive for Mac only) is a real beaut but at $500 is too much for my blood for the occasional vinyl to CDR burning I do. With the Tascam I can make 24 bit 96khz recordings if I want. I have loaded up on my MacBook again Apple's included Garage Band software, but I also downloaded Audacity and Final Vinyl and the Tascam included Cubase Le recording software. Each will allow you to record onto a computer and save to a hard drive or burn to a CDR.
It's not as hard to do as one may think but it has a general learning curve which most anyone can figure out within minutes or especially if you read the manuals.
But if you want a simple burn and play set up much like a cassette deck then if you can still get and afford an Alesis go for it. Or try a Tascam or Fostex stand alone burner. If you want to go less expensive as I said look online or at eBay or maybe here at A'gon for Pioneer, Sony or Teac consumer grade CD recorders. Or again look at stand alone portable digital recorders that can record even up to 24/96khz. You then need to transfer the recordings to a computer to burn a CD.
