Help this Mac noobie..please

[Alag28]

can some1 please tell me the difference between sleep mode and just shuttin off the macbook? what are the ups and downs? At what times is it better to just put it to sleep or shut it down?

sorry for the dumb questions but just want to be clear on everything. Thanks

 

[Xander562]

sleeping is different from shutting down in that you dont have to go through the boot-up process again, as soon as you open the macbook, your computer will be exactly the way you left it, with any programs you had running, running, and any windows you had open will be there. I'm sure someone here can give you a technical answer.

 

[EricNau]

A sleeping computer is very similar to a sleeping human.

While the computer is sleeping, it is supplying very small amounts of power to the processor and RAM to keep the data stored. Other devices (like Airport) will be completely shut off. Just like humans, computers are easy to wake up.

A powered-off computer is very similar to a dead human... only you can resuscitate the computer.


It is recommended that, when possible, you sleep the computer instead of turning it completely off.

 

[Spock]

as soon as you open the macbook, your computer will be exactly the way you left it, with any programs you had running, running, and any windows you had open will be there.

That was one of the features i loved about Mac OS X when it came out, the instant wake its such a cool and overlooked feature Windows PC's still cant get right.

 

[thewhitehart]

Absolutely one of the mac's best features. My friends are always amazed at how quickly my mac wakes up. Sleep screws up a Windows machine like you wouldn't believe. I never used it when I was a Microsoft zombie.

 

[d wade]

Absolutely one of the mac's best features. My friends are always amazed at how quickly my mac wakes up. Sleep screws up a Windows machine like you wouldn't believe. I never used it when I was a Microsoft zombie.

same. i gave my old laptop to my mom, and told her NEVER CLOSE THAT LID. now.. i never leave my mac up and running. a quick flip open and it will be right back where i left it.

 

[PCMacUser]

A sleeping computer is very similar to a sleeping human.

While the computer is sleeping, it is supplying very small amounts of power to the processor and RAM to keep the data stored. Other devices (like Airport) will be completely shut off. Just like humans, computers are easy to wake up.

A powered-off computer is very similar to a dead human... only you can resuscitate the computer.


It is recommended that, when possible, you sleep the computer instead of turning it completely off.

Haha that's a noble attempt but I think your analogy lost the plot somewhere. How about a sleeping computer is like a human taking an afternoon nap? You can be in the middle of something, then take a 10-20 minute nap and then wake up and carry on as though nothing happened. A powered off computer is like a human going to sleep at night. You undress, go to bed, sleep, and then when you wake up you have to shower, shave (for those of you who are old enough), brush your teeth, etc, before you can start to carry on doing other things. Unless of course you lack all hygiene and don't do those things in order to speed up your morning. That would be the equivalent of an XP bootup ha ha ha... just joking...

 

[poppe]

That was one of the features i loved about Mac OS X when it came out, the instant wake its such a cool and overlooked feature Windows PC's still cant get right.

G/F's brand new Dell 1505's mail account always freezes after a sleep, and takes about 20 seconds to come to back from full sleep...

2 questions:

1) When flash becomes more prominent in Laptops, do you think when a computer goes to sleep it will no longer store information in the RAM and what not but on the Flash? Perhaps then the computer could even shut down more?

2) How bad is it to move about with a sleeping laptop? I know the HD isn't spinning or anything, but still. Kinda scary with such a beautiful machine... if there was the slightest chance of screwing it up...

 

[joker2]

2) How bad is it to move about with a sleeping laptop? I know the HD isn't spinning or anything, but still. Kinda scary with such a beautiful machine... if there was the slightest chance of screwing it up...

It's fine to move about with a sleeping laptop if you take the proper precautions. I generally move about with mine in its padded carrying case which protects it from the jars of a person walking and inadvertently brushing up against stuff and bumping. I lay it flat (within its bag) on the seat in my car with no problem, get to my destination (like class, for instance), open it up and go.

I haven't flown since the stricter security went into effect, but when I went to the airport and through Security, they wanted to see all laptops working. I didn't have to wait for mine to boot up like some others did....

I tend to restart perhaps once every couple of weeks, and about once a month (or so) I shut it down completely overnight. The rest of the time? I'm either using it or it is asleep.

 

[poppe]

It's fine to move about with a sleeping laptop if you take the proper precautions. I generally move about with mine in its padded carrying case which protects it from the jars of a person walking and inadvertently brushing up against stuff and bumping. I lay it flat (within its bag) on the seat in my car with no problem, get to my destination (like class, for instance), open it up and go.

I haven't flown since the stricter security went into effect, but when I went to the airport and through Security, they wanted to see all laptops working. I didn't have to wait for mine to boot up like some others did....

I tend to restart perhaps once every couple of weeks, and about once a month (or so) I shut it down completely overnight. The rest of the time? I'm either using it or it is asleep.

On proper precaustions you mean just by padding it with Sleeves and cases? Or... sorry... im tired...

 

[joker2]

On proper precaustions you mean just by padding it with Sleeves and cases? Or... sorry... im tired...

Just a few things...
- Pad it with the sleeve/case.
- Don't put it where it can easily be moved/dropped by accident (edges of tables are susceptible to children, pets and inattentive adults...)
- Secure it when you travel by vehicle -- in a backpack if you're riding a two or three-wheeled vehicle, somewhere it won't slide in a 4+ wheeled vehicle
- Did I mention not putting it where pets / children can get to it?
- When you have it plugged in (power or ethernet), make sure the cord is out of a walkway... (though perhaps not as big of a concern as before with the new Mag-safe power connector...)
- Keep it away from the pets, kids and inattentive adults!!

No, this is not the voice of experience...

...yes it is...

 

[Cameront9]

2) How bad is it to move about with a sleeping laptop? I know the HD isn't spinning or anything, but still. Kinda scary with such a beautiful machine... if there was the slightest chance of screwing it up...

A Sleeping laptop can be moved as if it were shut down completely. The HD heads are parked. The machine is virtually off. I've been on flights with the computer asleep, no problems. IMO, the only times you need to shut down a Mac are 1) you're almost out of or really need to conserve the battery, 2) you need to restart to install some software, 3) You're shipping the computer somewhere, 4) you're cleaning the machine.

 

[piltupso]

Is it better to put desktops to sleep as well. I just got a mac pro and noticed in the manual that it says if you aren't going to use your computer for a day or more you should power it off. I was wondering about this as I had always been told by tech types that powering on and off a machine was harder on it than letting run or putting it to sleep. I don't plan often to leave the machine not working but was wondering about this?

 

[poppe]

Just a few things...
- Pad it with the sleeve/case.
- Don't put it where it can easily be moved/dropped by accident (edges of tables are susceptible to children, pets and inattentive adults...)
- Secure it when you travel by vehicle -- in a backpack if you're riding a two or three-wheeled vehicle, somewhere it won't slide in a 4+ wheeled vehicle
- Did I mention not putting it where pets / children can get to it?
- When you have it plugged in (power or ethernet), make sure the cord is out of a walkway... (though perhaps not as big of a concern as before with the new Mag-safe power connector...)
- Keep it away from the pets, kids and inattentive adults!!

No, this is not the voice of experience...

...yes it is...

Ok thanks thats what I thought and I have that covered, I just wasn't sure if you meant something interanly had to be done or something... again its late...