To Shut Down Or Not To Shut Down?

[jparker402]

Have been trying to get the answer to my question online with slow WiFi (I'm on a trip). I have an early 2015 MacBook Air. I understand from earlier reading and research that there is no need for me to shut down when I have finished a computer session; it is even desirably not to shut down. However, should I if I am going to take my computer on a trip? Afraid I might be harking back to the days of disk drives when shutting down would brake the drive to prevent damage. But with SSDs, I doubt that that is necessary. But I did think I would find an article actually saying it is not necessary, and, so far, I haven't.

 

[jz0309]

Have been trying to get the answer to my question online with slow WiFi (I'm on a trip). I have an early 2015 MacBook Air. I understand from earlier reading and research that there is no need for me to shut down when I have finished a computer session; it is even desirably not to shut down. However, should I if I am going to take my computer on a trip? Afraid I might be harking back to the days of disk drives when shutting down would brake the drive to prevent damage. But with SSDs, I doubt that that is necessary. But I did think I would find an article actually saying it is not necessary, and, so far, I haven't.

I don't recall ever shutting down any of my MacBooks with SSD and I had a few since 2013, including when going on international trips. The only time I shut don my iMac is when I;m out of the house on a trip for 3+ days ...
No need to shut down these days.

 

[DeltaMac]

If you are traveling with a laptop, that would not be significantly different than moving around during your normal day with your laptop.
Use it, close the lid, keep it your case for portability and protection. No need to shut down, your Mac sleeps when the lid is closed automatically. Pretty low power drain in that state, so unless your battery is not in good shape, you should be OK in normal use. Same while you are traveling.
But, as always, shutting down is your choice.
If you don't expect to use your laptop for a day or two, then nothing wrong with shutting it off completely - after all, it's not long to boot up from that SSD.
If your workflow has a complex setup, and sleeping would be better for you, then just close the lid. Don't be concerned about traveling with your MBAir, your laptop is engineered for that -- sleep works pretty good.
In the end, the choice (shutdown, or sleep) is a personal choice.

 

[KaliYoni]

If you use FileVault, shutting down can be more secure than sleeping. Further, there can be privacy and security advantages to having your computer shut down when going through security inspections and border control checkpoints when traveling.

 

[Wando64]

If you use FileVault, shutting down can be more secure than sleeping. Further, there can be privacy and security advantages to having your computer shut down when going through security inspections and border control checkpoints when traveling.

On which information do you base your statement about security with FileVault?
As far as I am aware there is no difference whatsoever, but I would be interested to know if you are aware of anything I don't.

As for airport security, I don't know where you live, but often here in Europe they ask you to turn your computer on to verify it is indeed a working computer.
Much easier and quicker if the computer is just sleeping.