Vista and Mixer device

[Nancy]

After tearing my hair out over the lack of a mixer device in the latest notebooks, I have come to the following conclusion:

Is the Mixer Device no longer available in computers, because it has been cut out of Windows Vista. I have been looking at notebooks in all the price ranges and find that the only way to record computer generated sound with a Vista machine seems to be, by placing a microphone next to a loudspeaker. Is this correct????

[Murf]

Not sure what you mean as VISTA has improved Audio/Sound: Not cut out.....

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/12/06/audio-improvements-in-windows-vista.aspx

[Nancy]

Every Vista laptop I've looked at doesn't seem to have the Volume Control mixer device. Of course, I've only seen those being sold in the UK. This of course, could be another way of ripping off us Brits!

[Murf]

Unless specifically told to show the volume control in the taskbar it will not. If you go:

Start>All Programs>Windows Media Center this will open a setup menu.

[Nancy]

I think what I should have called the Mixer Device is Audio Controller!! The Volume Control is already on the taskbar.
By the way when I go to Systems/devices/sound video and game controllers all that is listed is SigmaTel audio codec nothing else seems to be available.