COMPUTERS

[colin cheetham]

hI , is any member a computer expert, i have an Acer Espire recently the sound as gone off on all music during an update by Microsoft anyone any ideas on this,regards colin cheetham.

[laserblazer]

Have you accidently muted it? Click on the little speaker on the task bar and check the mute and volume. Failing that, it could be any number of things.

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Try re installing the drivers for the speakers, you may have to delete the old drivers first

[colin cheetham]

Hi thanks for replies yes speakers switched on, will try re install drivers thanks again,colin cheetham.

[shanagarry]

Colin - do you Vista or XP?

[colin cheetham]

Colin - do you Vista or XP?

Hi there computer is Vista 18 month old thanks colin.

[laserblazer]

Try a system restore to pre the update.

[shanagarry]

Colin

Vista is the problem and while that doesn't help much - the advice given by laserblazer is probably the best solution. If you want some meaningful advice - change to XP or wait for Windows 7 to prove itself. Vista was a total disaster for Microsoft and many like me left and converted to Apple Mac and don't regret it.

Good luck in your endeavours.

[colin cheetham]

Colin

Vista is the problem and while that doesn't help much - the advice given by laserblazer is probably the best solution. If you want some meaningful advice - change to XP or wait for Windows 7 to prove itself. Vista was a total disaster for Microsoft and many like me left and converted to Apple Mac and don't regret it.

Good luck in your endeavours.

thanks for all your advice yes vista is a problem i have an xp laptop so i think i will use that, kind regards colin cheetham.

[Polli62]

I don't seem to have a problem with vista on my laptop for some strange reason, I quite like it. Obviously it hasn't been a success with lots of problems for microsoft. I have main computer running XP and find that ok too. Originally started off with an apple imac and it was brilliant but couldn't afford to update to a new one, hence now a windows user.My son uses macs at work(graphic designer) & has one at home as well but he curses everytime he comes to my house & uses my windows computer, and says what a load of sh*te. Maybe in the future I will swap back to apple if I can afford it.What are your views between windows & macs?

[shanagarry]

It's a matter of personal preference and in my case convenience.

When I operated a PC I was plagued with spam mail - as much as 150 each day and was getting worse. I was paranoid about opening 'iffy' mail and on the occasions I did - I paid the cost in lost time and money eliminating the viruses.

I walked into the Apple Store in Southampton and had a demo - played for a while but was sold on the virtually spam and virus free environment suggested by the 'Genius'. That was three years ago and I can honestly say the amount of spam I receive now is practically zero (one a month - if that) and 'touch-wood' I have never had a virus on my Mac.

I am not a sophisticated user - mostly office and photographic applications - and I find it a very tidy environment to work in. I have one niggling issue - in Windows if you type a URL or an e-mail address in the text of a mail or document it automatically creates a link - not in Mac Mail.

I am no expert and I wouldn't be bold enough to state that one is better than the other - but I do know that in my case my computing requirements are far more enjoyable in the Apple Mac environment than they ever were in Windows.

You are absolutely right when you say it is expensive - it is - but it works perfectly and looks stunning. In the early days as I tried to find my way around it the back up support was magnificent - nothing was too much trouble. Compare that with PC World - if you dare!

It is a matter of preference, affordability and convenience or any combination thereof.

[Polli62]

Shannagary, the only problem I found was that lots of isp providers didn't cater for mac's until OSX came out, mine was version 9.22 ok on dial up but not broadband and thats why I changed to a PC when I went on broadband. Thankfully now their are lots of providers covering mac's especially since they changed their processor. I loved my mac, in fact its upstairs looking very much like an ornament.Maybe one day I will be able to afford another, unless my son gives me his hand me down when he upgrades, (Wishful thinking) as he as always had a good trade in figure at the apple shop against a new system.

[shanagarry]

My conversion to Mac was in July 2007 (Leopard) so I never experienced the pre-broadband days. When I changed I went straight in at the super-fast level and it was a dream come through. In that time I have changed machines twice and each time I got what I paid for the one I was changing - on e-bay. I am just about to change to the new iMac and started writing the copy for my e-bay ad last weekend when my eldest Son made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

I don't think that would happen with a Dell or any PC for that matter. They are a marvellous machine and their software is a delight to use and then there's the toys - the new Magic Mouse is awesome - there endeth the commercial.

[Polli62]

Son changed his approx 8 months ago, he has, I think a 26" screen with the computer built within it, it looks fab mounted on the wall, also a wireless mouse & keyboard, he even has it rigged up to sky TV.Must start saving up.