Poll: how many of you turn off your Imac 27 every night?

[flopticalcube]

Why do you keep repeating this, as if you're telling us something we didn't know? I don't think anyone has stated anywhere in this thread that the periodic scripts will run while Mac is off/asleep.

You may have not seen this thread before it was modded so it appears I am repeating this but there was a long running dispute. Furthermore, you may be misinterpreting what I am saying. The scripts will not run at all (until their next scheduled time) if the iMac is turned off at their scheduled time. The scripts will run at awaken time if the iMac was asleep at the scheduled time and is then awakened. So there is a big difference between sleeping your Mac or shutting it down.

 

[hitekalex]

Furthermore, you may be misinterpreting what I am saying. The scripts will not run at all (until their next scheduled time) if the iMac is turned off at their scheduled time. The scripts will run at awaken time if the iMac was asleep at the scheduled time and is then awakened. So there is a big difference between sleeping your Mac or shutting it down.

Ah yes, I now see the subtle point you were making - thanks for clarifying it. Just another reason why sleeping a machine is a good way to go.

 

[Trek2100]

Trek2100,

Another reason may be overnight maintenance (antivirus, backups) run on larger networks overnight. I was reminded about it by our IT, when I started shutting down my computer at the end of the day...

Tom B.

You are correct. In our case, we do not back up the PC's HDs nor do we update anti-virus software on the PC. Backups are done on servers where everyone has space for personal and business data. We encourage not to put data on HDs. If we get a virus that cannot be cleaned I just re-image the PC and re-install any software thats not part of the image. The anti-virus software is client-server based and everything is run through the servers. The desktops have a thin client if you wish to run it manually. However, Microsoft's security patches and other special upgrades are run in the middle of the night. Our "leave on" policy was in effect even in the old DOS and WIN 3.1 days when nothing was updated over the network.

 

[VanNess]

I agree. If the computer isn't going to be used for a 6-8hr period, might as well shut it off and conserve the energy. Think of the rainforest and polar bears guys!!

Apple publishes the power consumption specs for the 27 inch iMacs here (PDF file). Plugged into a 115 volt socket, the iMac gulps down a pretty miserly 1.75 watts while in sleep mode. When the machine is powered down, it's still 0.83 watts. I think there are probably other electric devices in just about anyone's house that polar bears can get PO'd about.

The 27-inch iMac consumes 67 percent less power in off mode and has a 3 percent smaller carbon footprint than the original 15-inch iMac.

Mine is turned off every time I go out or go to sleep. I don't trust electrics.

Welcome, PC switcher

 

[Shivetya]

I put mine to sleep.

 

[Fishrrman]

RE:
"Turning it off is bad, both to the computer and the OS"

Nonsense, plain and simple.

This is being typed on a PowerMac g4/1.24 Dual MDD, made in April 2004, running OS 10.3.9.

It came with 10.3.2, and when I got it, I re-initialized and partitioned the internal drive, and installed a clean copy of 10.3.2.

I then ran the 10.3.x updaters obtained from Software Update.

But - since that time - it has been running on the ORIGINAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE installation, which has never been "re-installed". 5 years.

I turn the computer off every night. I sometimes turn it off and restart a few times each _day_, going in and out for a few hours.

Now and then I run things like MacJanitor and Cache Out X to clean logs, etc.

On top of that, I use iDefrag to routinely defragment and optimize the drive.

I've changed drives at least once, and just reinstalled the old System from my backup.

But again - 5 years and still running off the originally-installed System.

The longer something is "up and running", the sooner it will wear down. I've found this to be especially true regarding hard drives. The _oldest_ hard drives I have, are the ones that are turned on the least amount of time.

- John

 

[plasticphyte]

I always turn my computer off - I don't particularly care for sleep/hibernate mode on any computer.

Why?

I remember way too many issues with early hibernate/sleep modes from the early days, and just never trusted computers to do it since.
Besides, I've never needed a computer to be 'instant on' and just don't buy into all that garbage about sleep modes being better for the computer, considering the last 10 computers I've owned have never had problems with being turned on each day.

Just a personal thing

 

[flopticalcube]

I remember way too many issues with early hibernate/sleep modes from the early days, and just never trusted computers to do it since.
Besides, I've never needed a computer to be 'instant on' and just don't buy into all that garbage about sleep modes being better for the computer, considering the last 10 computers I've owned have never had problems with being turned on each day.

Just a personal thing

10 years ago I would have totally agreed with you. Today's machines are much more clever about sleep, however. They only consume about 1 watt more than when "off" and given what happens to launchd with regards to script execution its just better to sleep than to turn off. I agree though that I don't think there is much of a difference to the hardware whether its off or in sleep and most boots are fast enough these days.

 

[chkdg8]

I turn mine off every night. If I'm not using it, then might as well. I do use the sleep feature on some nights but not as often as powering down.