I'm pretty sure that container ships crossing the Pacific in winter aren't heated but I'd be inclined to think that your monitor will be happier at temperatures where you are comfortable. Say 40ð to 100ðF.

OK, Zep. You've got the banana care nailed! A couple of ornamental (you don't want to eat the fruit, because it's full of seeds) varieties can survive in cold areas, like here in NY, with that kind of care. Edible varieies, around here, have to come inside for the winter. Now to the subject at hand: I got nowhere with the Creative link. I just got an error, HTTP 404 Not Found. When I clicked on, "Publisher: Creative", I got to a place where there were so many of these things that I didn't know which one was the right one. At the Gateway link, they asked for the serial number. (0016653113) When I gave them that, and clicked on a few other things that they told me to do, I got this instruction: "Insert System Restoration Kit Drivers CD in the System Restoration Kit Window." I found the System Restoration CD, and I guess there's really only one place I can insert it. On the disc itself, it says to reinstall some old Windows operating systems, start the PC with the disc inserted, and to install system software and drivers, insert the disc while the PC is on. So, I guess I start up the PC, and put the disc in. If I remember correctly, from the few times I have used any restorations, long ago, you restore to a certain date. A date, when I still had sound, was before I took the 'puter in for service. If I restore to a date like that, while restoring my sound, am I not also restoring the problems that prompted me to take the machine in for service, in the first place?

I recently registered to access my health care plan online. It required such a complicated password, I had to call the Company for support. The nice lady said their password requirements were too difficult for most users, including their employees. There was no choice except to write it down as it could not be memorized (at least with my aging brain). It required 14 characters, upper and lower letters, with minimum of 3 characters. To further complicate things, after 5 log-ons, the password must be changed again. I decided it was easier to call Aetna to discuss my plan than to attempt to access their web-site. Jane

Regarding my comments about in-wall/ceiling speaker placement, it was in regards to common walls & ceilings/floors. Even if there are no common walls, sound travels through the framing members and can "get into" other areas. Just something I wanted to make sure you consider. You know, that guy at the stop-light next to you with the "boom-boom-boom" type of thing! As far as ipod/ipad control, the current offering has been from companies such as Savant, Crestron, and other upper tier manufacturers. While costs vary depending on your location, installation requirements, equipment, and a whole host of other variables, you're in the $20K plus area to get into that type of setup. The good thing is that the ipad has created a buzz within CE industry (which has been grasping at straws lately - you know that 3D thing...), and we will start seeing more products with networked ipad control capabilities. There is a company that sells a product - RedEye - that converts your ipad into a WiFi-to-IR transmitter for a couple hundred dollars - but I'll let you read the reviews... On the other hand, things are only going to get better as far as ipod/ipad options. By traditional, I mean running in-wall rated speaker wiring to each area from a central distribution point. You run into each room, go to an in wall speaker level control, and then to your in-wall/ceiling speakers. At your central distribution point, you use an impedance matching speaker selector, connected to a good quality receiver. There are RF wireless remotes from companies such as Logitech - Harmony - that can re-broadcast the signal from the remote in any room, to your "equipment rack." While all this is flux, and technology is constantly changing, you can put together something economically that can be upgraded, without feeling too bad, in a few years or even a few months.