Still, at least it's more tuneful than the pitiful beep most PCs emit when powered up.

Consider it to be a diagnostic tool. If it doesn't go "bong", it's likely to be broken. If it emits staccato beeps, it's definitely gone wrong. Older PowerMacs used to emit a screeching-tyres-and-car-crash sound if they encountered a serious failure during booting.

I seem to recall somewhere that if you mute the machine before shutting down, it may remain muted when restarted. Might be worth a try.

Dave, the boing sound contains subliminal messages that help to make you more receptive to Jobs' RDF.

Nope, it doesn't make any difference, I tried it before. Plugging in headphones doesn't help either, it still plays it through the speaker!

Okay, with the caveat I've not tried any of these methods...

Here'sthe geeky way using UNIX...

These posters at MacRumors reckon the mute before shutdown routine works like a charm.

Finally, there are some ideas on this web page.

The "Boing" sound on my PowerMac only comes through my attached speakers instead of the inbuilt one. Try plugging speakers in through the back, not the front port. I've also got this lovely little powersaving thing that cuts power to absolutely everything once the computer is off, and only powers it up 5 seconds after it's back on again. Means my amp doesn't have power to make that Mac sound.

The @ symbol is just annoying. There are SO many more keyboards with the @ above the ' instead of the 2 it should conform! CONFORM!

Removing all power from everything when you're not using it makes much more sense than this "sleep" malarky; saves untold amounts of energy. Not that I care this year, as i'm bills inclusive with rent, but cutting the power also means the horrible electrical buzzing sounds stop.

Here are some examples, plus a link to a control, pane which lets you switch the sound off.

http://www.geekology.co.za/blog/2009/07 ... the-years/

Apple thinks different, though.

I'm happy where it is, so don't come barging in here demanding change. You wanted a Mac, after all.

I've been using this for some years on various macs, has always worked flawlessly for me.

Of course it doesn't help with the fact that when my Mac pro starts up, I get 10 seconds where it sounds like a Dyson...

Jon

I just want the option to change my keyboard layout thankyouverymuch >.<

Damned control freak that I am.

Plus my housemates could just NOT find it. They didn't think to try where the " usually is. Nope, just called me over and said my Mac was broken.

-.-

I guess it's much the same to become accustomed to driving a left-hand drive car.

Incidentally, I just tried the "mute before shutdown" thing, and it does work. Completely silent reboot.

Have you tried connecting a PC USB keyboard to the Mac? I think the OS maps Command to the Windows key or something, but otherwise leaves the other keys intact. Might be worth a try.

Works on my MBP as well. In fact, the volume of the start-up chime on mine is related to the system volume.

I'm actually using a USB switch to use my G15 on my PC and my Mac =)

Click

Found this, changes the startup volume and gives the option to mute too...I've not restarted since installing it so I don't know if it works yet.

Thanks Jon and Gav, giving it a try.

I've not heard the bong noise from my MacBook for months. Muting the sound before a restart definitely works.

As for all this "I turn my Mac off because it saves energy compared to sleeping" well, I think that's rubbish. I don't have any figures of course, but when I think about it I can't see how turning a machine off saves any energy at all.

My Mac takes approx two minutes from hitting the power button to finish logging in and launched my startup applications. It takes about 20 seconds to power down too. I highly doubt that it uses more power to sleep a machine for a few hours than to have it working to power up/down for a few minutes.