You should definitely have a pair of cheap headphones plugged into your computer at all times. You cannot trust your volume settings. It is the only way I feel comfortable turning it on, knowing I will not hear its "good morning" noise. Those type of noises never come at the right time.
I have a pair of fakey I-pod numbers always plugged in. Always on. I rarely listen to music, but have them on all the time to avoid meaningless chit chat with the office buddies. I always have them on, shaping the behaviour of those around me. Creating the image of a diligent focused person is paramount. Sometimes I forget to take them off. Ever.
Sometimes I wear them home, on the subway, to the market. It places an almost impenetrable layer between me an the rest of the world. Someday I will get an I-pod, but for now these headphones will do fine.
