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Community weekly poll: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use?
- 1/25/08 3:02 PM
Turn comp off
by billpierce29 - 1/26/08 7:02 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I turn the comp off when not using to stop hackers from opening the gate. Bill
Closing the gate?
by rbsjrx - 1/26/08 7:16 AM In reply to: Turn comp off by billpierce29And what exactly makes you think that turning off the computer makes you safe from hackers? It typically takes only seconds (or less) to get into a poorly protected machine and it can happen while you're sitting there working, without your being aware of it.
The only effective prevention is a good firewall combined with good anti-virus and anti-spyware protection. If you don't have those, the only effective prevention is to never connect to the Internet at all.
Turn off Computer response
by itsmeray - 1/26/08 7:05 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I do not turn off servers at either home or business locations for the obvious reasons but believe since the original question refers to gadgets and PC's they mean workstations. I agree with the feelings of the Rebecca D. but I do leave my workstations on at both locations as I need to be able to RDP, PC Anywhere, VNC, etc. into them from the opposite location. I'm going to look into other options now that I've been forced to think about it. The world is getting smaller as are the available resources to power it and the demand is getting larger as previously underdeveloped or slower developing nations are expanding their need and desire for technology. So I'm going to get on the bandwagon with that famous comic Rodney King and try harder to "just get along" at least from an energy standpoint. Thank you Rebecca D. You have made me think green. I appreciate you.
This topic...
by rbsjrx - 1/26/08 7:08 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A disturbing thread in many of these replies is people leaving their machines on for no better reason than convenience, or turning them off for security. Let's address these...
If your OS makes it inconvenient to power down and back up, then you need to investigate ways around the problem. Windows, Linux, and Mac all offer settings and operating modes to minimize turn-on delay and inconvenience. If your machine has problems and loses its settings when turned off, that's a maintenance issue that should be addressed. People aren't going to leave a problem with their car uncorrected, and the principle's the same.
If you feel that leaving your machine on all the time is a security risk, then you haven't done enough to protect your machine in the first place. Security breaches can happen in seconds, even when you're sitting at the keyboard, so turning your machine off when not in use is a totally ineffective as a security strategy.
Re: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use?
by draco_lich - 1/26/08 7:11 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes.
1) The heat can be damaging if not ventilated well or if a fan dies. Burning dust or faulty wiring can be a fire hazard. Mechanical devices, such as fans and hard drives, can actually sieze if they've been running for extended periods of time before being powered off. RAM can be damaged causing file corruption, erratic OS behavior and unexplainable crashes and reboots.
2) A hacker can't attack a computer that's powered off. More specifically, a computer that is disconnected from the internet.
3) It does save a bit on the electric bills, too. How much, though depends on the system.
NO TO TURN OFF COMPUTER
by doodlebug260 - 1/26/08 7:12 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I guess my reasoning comes from military service where equipment is left on 24/7. When I turn my computer in the morning it is on till I go to bed. I think more damage is done by turning them on and off everytime you use it.
Steve
Power cycles vs. life expectaancy
by rbsjrx - 1/26/08 7:31 AM In reply to: NO TO TURN OFF COMPUTER by doodlebug260This is a valid discussion point. For purely electronic devices such as RAM, it's not a valid argument. The failure mechanisms of electronic components consist of an elevated infant mortality rate followed by an extremely long period of low mortality, followed by by a rising mortality rate as the component approaches its end of life. However, remember that end of life typically means a few decades past the point of obsolescence.
HDDs are another matter, though. As electromechanical systems, they are subject to friction, wear, and other physical degradation. Along with the manufacturers' data, my own experience leads me to believe that HDDs will live longer if they're never powered down. But then, that also includes spinning down when not in use or when the machine is operating in a reduced power mode.
So what to do? My conclusion, and my recommendation, is to back up regularly, then turn of when you can. Leaving the machine on is a poor substitute for not backing up your data.
would if i could
by cspoulsen - 1/26/08 7:12 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Unfortunately, my HP with Vista takes a long time to start. And the sleep mode causes problems after awhile. I was told it really isn't good for the computer to use sleep mode. So, I shut it down at night only.
I lived in Scandinavia for awhile where electricity costs a fortune. People turn everything off when not in use and are taught to do so from early childhood. Thank you for posting such an important, timely message. claire p.
I leave my computer most all the time
by eneguerenrut - 1/26/08 7:18 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I leave my computer on all the time, shutting it down once or twice a week.
Why:
1)I have my anti virus program set to do a complete scan at 3 am. It takes a long time to run.
2)Too impatient to wait for it to boot when I want to use the computer.
3)My screen saver displays My Pictures folder which contains photos of our prior travels and we enjoy reliving prior experiences
4)I am retired and use my computer several times a day to check e-mail, surf the net, play games, etc.
Turning off the computer
by sun.seeker - 1/26/08 7:20 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes I do turn off my computer at night, for 2 reasons.
#1 My fear of some one hacking into it, virus, bug, worm etc
#2 Unnecessary energy consumption and possible overheating.
I figure why have it on if I know I'm not going to be using it for several hours, I also unplug it in case of a power surge or storm.
Why take a chance?
Paula
I generally leave it on 24/7.
by winsleuth - 1/26/08 7:23 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If PC's today consume more power why then do all the new models I open up as a consultant, they almost always have a 250W or 300W only supply? Years ago I had to go to 400 to 450, so I thought these devices were using less energy today (anyone please answer if you are sure of your facts). Four reasons to leave it on, I am on a UPS and I believe the lite bulb theory that failures more often occur on startup, #2, with all the power down options in the OS now, that should cut the energy usage enough and #3, I need access offsite to my files and as a test machine since I do lots of remote work so it has to be on and #4, when Windows quits working just by 'just being on' I learn from troubleshooting those incidents and that means about once a week. FOUR REASONS TO TURN IT OFF: #1-lessen chance of hackers getting in, #2-doesnt heat the room up as much (I have three on all the time), #3-After any install of new software, even if it doesnt say reboot, REBOOT, so you know When and What caused Windows to lose boot up ability, and $4-to lower power consumption lower than even Standby modes and drives spun down. I am quite confident though that a PC that isnt constantly rebooted will last longer than one that is shut on and off every day. {but also a reboot is good to see if your boot up and shutdown times have gone off the chart, these times can almost always be traced to something that you may want to eliminate.}
Dave
LEAVING COMPUTER ON
by BOLOMO3 - 1/26/08 7:25 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I LEAVE OUR COMPUTER ON - I RUN MANY 'MAINTENANCE' AND OTHER PROGRAMS DURING THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING. SO OUR COMPUTER IS ON ALL THE TIME - EXCEPT WHEN WE ARE AWAY FOR 24 HOURS OR LONGER.
Do I turn off my computer when not in use
by pumejohn - 1/26/08 7:37 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I turn off my computer at night when I go to bed. Also when I plant to be away for mor than a couple of hours. I do this for several reason: To save electricity, secirity and to reset RAM and other functions.
I leave it on but turn the monitor off
by mistertee - 1/26/08 7:48 AM In reply to: Poll: Do you turn off your computer when it's not in use? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I usually turn my monitor off at night but leave the computer running for nightly defragging, registry cleaning, virus/spyware scanning and other automated maintenance. Unfortunately I just don't have time for these tasks during daytime hours. Although I undoubtedly pay the price when the PG&E bill arrives, my 3 year old VAIO PC runs as good or better than the day I bought it. To me, that's worth a few extra buck per month.
I turn it off at night!
by Gramia97 - 1/26/08 8:40 AM In reply to: I leave it on but turn the monitor off by misterteeFor many reasons I trun off all equipment in my office at night, leave on durning day, unless we will be out all day.
I worked at a place that made hard-drives, it is true that the spinup of the hard-drive (starting up from being off) is the time when the drive will fail most often. So I leave the drives on all day and shut them down only at night. The screens on the computer go in to black after 15 min of non use. I try to buy the better brands of hard-drives. Knock on wood, thus far all hard-drives are still running. Even the two I had to saw out of melted plastic of the computer after a fire in my office in 2003. My daughter has one and I have one connected by USB.
When I shut down I install any new windows updates that have been down loaded for the day. And I shut all power off to all equipment, including my modem, printer and hard-drives. I do this by truning off the power stripe they are pluged into.
Scanners are only connected to power when I use them, I don't leave them on all the time. I do leave my all in one printer on all the time, but it is an energy star printer. I do power cycle it about once a week so it can reset itself.
While fixing an issue with a cell phone, the tech said shutting my phone off when not is use is good for the phone and allows it to reset on powerup. I have been using the same phone since Aug 2001. The way I use the phone is whats helped it last so long. I only charge when the phone tell me it is low on power.
The same in true with my portable phone that I use around the house. I use recharage batteries in everything that I can. I only buy rechargeable AA and AAA's. Then again only recharge when fully discahrged. That makes the battery last longer.
May desktop is 5 years old, the laptop is 1, and a printer is 5 and the all in one is new. I bought the scanner at Goodwill last year. I am not one to add the lastest and greatest. I like the tried and true. I only use XP, nothing runs on Vista.
All lighting in my home has bees switched to the low energy bulbs. I recycle every thing I can. I use resusable shopping bags. And I try to buy products made from recycled materials. I also think about what goes into the making of the products I buy. Like my new all in one printer is one that you just replace the ink, not the print-head. The amount of chemicals used to make the print-head is now saved, not by me but by the company that makes my printer. Making their impact lower and in the process I now print for $0.02 instead of $0.07. As soon as we use up the one cartridge of ink, we will recycle the old printer. I also print on both sides of the paper, cutting my paper useage in half.
SAVE, SAVE is what I am all about!
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