Take steps to hush noisy computer gear

Silence: Through sound effects, home decor and new equipment, there are ways to make your space more soothing.

Computers are too noisy.

They have keyboards that click and squeak, sound cards that beep and squawk, disk drives that rasp and swish, fans that hum and buzz, power supplies that whine and displays that squeal and whistle.

If all that doesn't bother you, I probably won't convince you that it's a problem.

But if it does bother you, it probably bothers you a lot.

I hate it. I think noise pollution is sinister and believe it deserves lots more attention than it gets. I'll bet the indoor noises of the electro-industrial age are a significant factor in our overstressed and quick-to-rage lives.

If that's how you feel, what can you do about tech noise?

First, start asking about it when you buy equipment. Sadly, there's no official noise measurement on computers or all the many peripherals. How much easier it would be if noise-haters could look for some kind of QuietCode, say a measurement on a scale of 1 to 10. If we start asking for it, though, we can get it. You can get an emissions measurement because the European labor unions insisted on clear numbers for the electrical and magnetic fields around computers.

There are now some numbers available for the similar fields around cell phones. Eventually there might be an official label for "Noise Safe," similar to the EnergyStar label that now promises power efficiency.

Second, listen to new equipment whenever possible. Realistically, you can't do that in the store. They won't be set up for it, and you won't be able to hear, not with the background noise level in the store. What sounds silent in the store may sound like a leaf-blower in your office. But ask if you have the right to bring the equipment back if you're dissatisfied. Then listen carefully after you set up in home or office. And try not to think, "Ah, that's fairly comfortable." A little noise can be like a little pinch in a shoe - if you wear it a lot, you're going to develop a sore spot too soon.

Third, you can get a silent display, or at least much quieter, by moving to a flat panel, such as built into a portable computer. Flat panels for desktops aren't truly affordable yet, but if noise matters to you, and you have limited desk space, well, then, that's two good reasons to pay the extra cost.

Fourth, look for one of the few silent desktops. Apple's new PowerMac G4 Cube, for instance, comes without a fan. That's a big deal, and a welcome breakthrough. The difficulty is keeping these machines cool enough for long life and reliable performance. The Cube manages.

Fifth, if your desktop has a fan, try putting the main computer case below your desk or, if possible, even behind a divider or in a closet. Make sure it has enough airflow to stay cool but shuts its noise away from your ears.

Sixth, add sound-deadening materials to your system. For example, Molex makes the SilentDrive (http://www.silentpc.nl/prod04.htm), an enclosure for hard drives that is supposed to reduce their noise by more than 90 percent, while still conducting their heat safely away.

Seventh, add sound-deadening materials to your workspace. Carpets, wall fabrics, upholstered chairs: These all absorb sound.

Eighth, use your computer's configuration controls to turn off any annoying and unnecessary sounds. Typically, you hold down the F1 or F2 key while starting a PC. Then you open the control panels on Windows, Mac, or Linux, to turn off sounds associated with computer "events," from startup to opening a file.

Ninth, look for earplugs or earphones you can wear while computing. This might just be the plugs sold at drugstores to cut the noise burden on the ears. Airport shops and travel stores also sell such earplugs for travelers who want to sleep en route.

Another option is to use noise-cancellation headphones. These have electronics that listen to the regular sounds in an environment, and then produce opposite sound waves to cancel them out. Many companies sell these, including IBM (with one source the 01dot.com site at www.01dot.com/ibmheadnoisc.html).

Tenth, and last, cover it up. I'm not sure this helps as much, but it can feel better, at least in the short run.

Get some pleasant sounds, such as a forest or seashore, and play them on your stereo, MP3 player or the computer itself.

Then, go back and remind the computer-makers that silence is golden.