I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
machine to sleep/off?

In article <11d3g2leavbnj12@news.supernews.com>,
Seuss <seuss@nospam.com> wrote:

> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

I've been using PowerBook and now iBook for several years.

I set the Energy Saver control panel to put it to sleep after a while. I
think the default settings on the Energy Saver are appropriate. other
than that, I leave it on.

The backlight on the display has a finite life, so having it go off
after a while is desirable.

Bill

--
For email, remove invalid.

In article <11d3g2leavbnj12@news.supernews.com>,
Seuss <seuss@nospam.com> wrote:

> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

I've been using PowerBook and now iBook for several years.

I set the Energy Saver control panel to put it to sleep after a while. I
think the default settings on the Energy Saver are appropriate. other
than that, I leave it on.

The backlight on the display has a finite life, so having it go off
after a while is desirable.

Bill

--
For email, remove invalid.

I've used a PowerBook G3 and now a G4 for several years. I never shu
them down unless there arises a problem where I have no other choic
(such as upgrading software or when something just doesn't want to wor
right). I will regularly let my battery take over when I'm using th
machine so as to cycle the battery to get optimal life out of it. But
don't shut the machine off, I just close the lid and put it to sleep
Then it's there in a second when I open the lid. My display is set t
never sleep because I want my machine always ready to go when I'm usin
it. I often use it for presentations and if I'm hesitating on
particular Keynote slide for a while, I don't want the screen save
coming on and messing things up. Screen savers aren't that necessar
anymore since it's an LCD rather and a CRT. You don't have "burn-in" o
an LCD.

Hope this gives another perspective to you.

Ar

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I've used a PowerBook G3 and now a G4 for several years. I never shu
them down unless there arises a problem where I have no other choic
(such as upgrading software or when something just doesn't want to wor
right). I will regularly let my battery take over when I'm using th
machine so as to cycle the battery to get optimal life out of it. But
don't shut the machine off, I just close the lid and put it to sleep
Then it's there in a second when I open the lid. My display is set t
never sleep because I want my machine always ready to go when I'm usin
it. I often use it for presentations and if I'm hesitating on
particular Keynote slide for a while, I don't want the screen save
coming on and messing things up. Screen savers aren't that necessar
anymore since it's an LCD rather and a CRT. You don't have "burn-in" o
an LCD.

Hope this gives another perspective to you.

Ar

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aajoyce's Profile: http://www.macosx.com/forums/member.php?userid=3902
View this thread: http://www.macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23048
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Bill <bbcollins@invalid.earthlink.net> wrote:

> The backlight on the display has a finite life, so having it go off
> after a while is desirable.

That's the important issue. The screens do dim a bit with use and
sleeping the screen, at least, when its not in direct use is a good
idea.

From the green perspective, we've done some extremely ballparkish
calculations here in the past; it seems that if the machine's going to
be on standby for up to several hours, then sleeping is the best option
and uses less juice than stopping and starting. If it's a case of
several days, then switching off and restarting postpones the end of the
world as we know it by several microseconds.
--
Peter

Bill <bbcollins@invalid.earthlink.net> wrote:

> The backlight on the display has a finite life, so having it go off
> after a while is desirable.

That's the important issue. The screens do dim a bit with use and
sleeping the screen, at least, when its not in direct use is a good
idea.

From the green perspective, we've done some extremely ballparkish
calculations here in the past; it seems that if the machine's going to
be on standby for up to several hours, then sleeping is the best option
and uses less juice than stopping and starting. If it's a case of
several days, then switching off and restarting postpones the end of the
world as we know it by several microseconds.
--
Peter

On 11/7/05 01:41, in article 11d3g2leavbnj12@news.supernews.com, "Seuss"
<seuss@nospam.com> wrote:

> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

Put it to sleep. Save a few kilos of CO2

On 11/7/05 01:41, in article 11d3g2leavbnj12@news.supernews.com, "Seuss"
<seuss@nospam.com> wrote:

> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

Put it to sleep. Save a few kilos of CO2

Seuss <seuss@nospam.com> wrote:

>I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
>exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
>that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
>time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
>with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
>machine to sleep/off?

I'd set it to put itself to sleep. Monitor after 20 minutes or so,
sleep after an hour or two (or whatever works for you). All laptops
run fairly warm, which isn't the best thing for your hard drive or
battery. The backlight has a finite lifetime too. They are engineered
to take the heat of course, so it's not a concern for normal use, but
it's enough to make me advise against leaving it on 24/7.

Wake from sleep only takes a couple of seconds. I wouldn't switch it
off unless you were going away for a few days.


Tim
--
Today's message was brought to you by Mary, Jane and a big number two.

Seuss <seuss@nospam.com> wrote:

>I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
>exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
>that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
>time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
>with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
>machine to sleep/off?

I'd set it to put itself to sleep. Monitor after 20 minutes or so,
sleep after an hour or two (or whatever works for you). All laptops
run fairly warm, which isn't the best thing for your hard drive or
battery. The backlight has a finite lifetime too. They are engineered
to take the heat of course, so it's not a concern for normal use, but
it's enough to make me advise against leaving it on 24/7.

Wake from sleep only takes a couple of seconds. I wouldn't switch it
off unless you were going away for a few days.


Tim
--
Today's message was brought to you by Mary, Jane and a big number two.

On 10/07/2005, Seuss wrote in message <11d3g2leavbnj12@news.supernews.com>:

> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

Let the computer sleep when you're not using it. Reboot it once
every month or so (I'm just being superstitious).

Pull the battery out and put it on a shelf somewhere. Once every
month or so, put it in, use the computer until it goes to sleep
because it has run out of power, charge the battery back up again,
then pull it out and put it back on the shelf.

Simon.
--
Using pre-release version of newsreader.
Please tell me if it does weird things.

On 10/07/2005, Seuss wrote in message <11d3g2leavbnj12@news.supernews.com>:

> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

Let the computer sleep when you're not using it. Reboot it once
every month or so (I'm just being superstitious).

Pull the battery out and put it on a shelf somewhere. Once every
month or so, put it in, use the computer until it goes to sleep
because it has run out of power, charge the battery back up again,
then pull it out and put it back on the shelf.

Simon.
--
Using pre-release version of newsreader.
Please tell me if it does weird things.

Seuss <seuss@nospam.com> writes:
>
> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

I don't think periodic sleep/shutdown is necessary.

I would, as others have said, configure it to put the display to sleep,
however. The backlight on an LCD panel will burn out eventually. If
you're like most people, you won't spend the majority of each 24 hour
period actively using the computer. If you use it 8 hours a day,
that's 1/3 of the time. By sleeping the display during those other 16
hours, you will triple the life of the backlight (vs. leaving it on
24/7).

Other components (CPU, hard drive, etc.) shouldn't have a problem being
left on all the time. And, depending on who you ask, some will say
leaving them on will make them last longer.

WRT energy saving, that's between you, your power company, and your
conscience.

-- David

Seuss <seuss@nospam.com> writes:
>
> I'm using a 15"PB as a desktop replacement. I know that I need to
> exercise the battery occasionally to maximize it's life. Apart from
> that, is it OK to leave it connected to the mains the other 95% of the
> time with the computer on all the time (as I would with a real desktop
> with the display off when it's not in use) or is it better to put the
> machine to sleep/off?

I don't think periodic sleep/shutdown is necessary.

I would, as others have said, configure it to put the display to sleep,
however. The backlight on an LCD panel will burn out eventually. If
you're like most people, you won't spend the majority of each 24 hour
period actively using the computer. If you use it 8 hours a day,
that's 1/3 of the time. By sleeping the display during those other 16
hours, you will triple the life of the backlight (vs. leaving it on
24/7).

Other components (CPU, hard drive, etc.) shouldn't have a problem being
left on all the time. And, depending on who you ask, some will say
leaving them on will make them last longer.

WRT energy saving, that's between you, your power company, and your
conscience.

-- David