As I understand it -- and I may be wrong -- is that if the Mac goes to sleep, a password prompt will appear with the same background as the desktop. But if you log out, a password prompt will appear with a background that looks lie fabric. My system is set to require a password 5 minutes after sleep or screensaver, but this shouldn't log me out.
I haven't paid attention to whether I have to re-launch my apps when this occurs; I don't think so. I'm the only account on the machine, other than the disabled Guest account.
Yes, if I "log out," the fabric screen appears (w/ pw prompt)... but if I put my computer to "sleep," the desktop screen (w/ pw prompt) appears. Just trying it now to confirm this jogged my memory...
...the random log outs definitely went to desktop screen w/ pw prompt (as if I put the computer to sleep, then woke it... except that it goes straight to the login desktop screen by itself).
I also set my system to sleep after 15 mins of inactivity, but the random log outs occur when I'm using my notebook. And again, my apps stay open just as if I had woken my notebook from sleep (if I had logged out, the apps would be closed unless I checked the option to "reopen" apps, etc. ...so in my case, the random log outs are behaving like computer went to sleep).
