Wow. I've been working all day/night, so early this morning (and it's my 
birthday!!!)  was my first chance to read ALL of the messages of this thread. 
I won't try to hit each point by point, but just wanted to add my two cents. 
I certainly don't want to escalate any flaming or political thoughts. 

I generally agree with Walt's thoughts below. I generally have gotten into 
the habit of leaving all of our computers on. I reboot when necessary to 
improve performance. I used to go with screen savers for the monitors, until 
I came to understand that from an energy consumption perspective, the 
monitors were the big offenders. So the CRTs DO get turned off each night 
where there are separate monitors. On iMacs, the display is set to sleep 
within minutes -- all the time. The TiBook is kept plugged into AC when in 
the office, so I vary between turning down the display completely and 
sleeping the machine -- I like to index the machines at least a couple of 
times a week, so on those nights, I don't sleep the machines, just turn off 
CRT or sleep/turn down displays. I'm usually working until the wee hours 
anyway, so the indexing is set for 3 AM (sometimes I'm still working!). I do 
not have a cooling issue with the TiBook -- my fan has turned on twice in 
almost a year (I use a podium Coolpad -- maybe that's why?). I personally 
subscribe to the expansion/contraction theory -- so I figure a relatively 
constant temperature within all of the machines would minimize that. I also 
subscribe another theory that I've not notice anyone else mention. I think 
it's especially useful to keep the machine running while covered under 
warranty. I figure that the more it's running, the more likely that if 
there's a problem, it will reveal itself -- better while it's covered for 
repairs!!

As far as the surge issue, I have some thoughts. I happen to live in an area 
that is frequently affected by power issues -- blips, brownouts, complete 
power losses. I have an iMac hooked up to an APC surge suppressor/500VA UPS. 
That has been sufficient for that machine. In my office, I have a suppressor, 
1700 VA UPS that is sufficient for the equipment I have in there. This unit 
replaced a previous 900VA unit that finally died after seven years of use 
(this unit did not have a replaceable battery, and the battery finally wore 
out from being recharged so many times from its frequent use!!). The 1700 VA 
unit provides enough power (or at least so far has) to accommodate any outage 
we've experienced since I've had it -- without having to run around shutting 
off machines! If I ever determine the need is sufficient, I can always opt to 
get UPS service/surge suppression directly from my electrical utility -- 
perhaps yours offers a similar service. And this service comes with the 
equipment repair/replacement guarantees in the event of damage -- which I 
think may actually be easier to collect on than the supposed covered offered 
by the manufacturers of some of these surge suppressors and/or UPS units.

I don't know if this has been helpful -- it's just my own experience. I don't 
want to claim some level of superior knowledge -- I just work in the 
trenches. I've owned computers since '84 and have been the network 
administrator (and thus responsible for) for several corporate networks. I've 
never fried a computer (Thank God!). I've done other stupid things, but not 
that. I've never had a machine experience a premature death from not turning 
it off --every machine I've ever owned still works -- either still in my 
possession, or given away/sold to others -- and some are over a decade in age!

And now I think I'll retire for the evening (actually, morning) so that when 
I wake up, I can enjoy the rest of my birthday!!

Michelle

-----------------------
Michelle K. Wachtel, Apple Product Professional, Inspiration to Information
804/794-6435, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<A HREF="http://www.carbonus.com/23";>www.carbonus.com/23</A> or <A 
HREF="http://www.4allnaturals.com/23";>www.4allnaturals.com/23</A>








In a message dated 6/30/02 3:20:36 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

<< 
On Sunday, June 30, 2002, at 09:17  AM, Kyle Hansen 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:


> Reasons to shut down your Mac every night (even though Apple says it's ok 
> so
> sleep it):
> 1.  It is a waste of electricity.

I could care less. I pay for it.

> 2.  If their is a power surge, spike or outage in your area it could 
> damage or
> destroy your computer.

I have a quality surge protector/UPS, one that even cleans up the incoming 
sine wave. Not everyone opts to purchase these, but I feel very safe using 
it.

> 3.  Shutting down and restarting your Mac dumps the memory heaps and 
> resets the
> system solving a ton of potential issues.

It is a good idea to restart now and then. I can gauge the performance by 
the fluid (or not so fluid) movement of the dock with magnification turned 
on. It tends to slow down a bit after running all day. Logging out and 
back in restores the fluid movement. About the only time I do a restart is 
when I have to because of an update or software installation.

> 4.   A colder computer is a happier computer.  Constant heat form even 
> nominal
> operation will reduce the longevity of your mac.

This has never been *proven*. There are two schools of thought on heat. 
Yours, and mine which   thinks that the cool down/heat up cycle induced by 
powering off for the night will have the same effect that the sun/heat 
plays on roads, only on a much smaller scale. Two things reek havoc on the 
radar systems that I repair. Excessive heat (which is countered by the 23 
gallon liquid coolant system and ambient air flow through the circuit card 
assemblies) and powering down for the night. In these logic boards that 
are much more sensitive to temperature variables than that of a computer 
this makes a big difference. The difference between running for a couple 
weeks without requiring any service and having to call us out to repair it 
after they turn it off when it is not being used. Our answer to them is to 
keep the thing running. We like that when they do because that means I am 
not going out on a site call for a repair as often. Our laptops, not being 
as sensitive as these cards, would probably take a much longer time 
between failures due to temperature, and may not even be noticeable.

The difference between us is that I acknowledge these facts, and when 
someone asks, I don't try to push my opinion on them. I offer them both 
sides, and let them choose.

> 5.  Leaving your Mac on all the time is the equivalent of leaving your car
> idling all the time.  The tires won't wear, the transmission won't wear, 
> and
> your headlights won't burn out, but it's still running.

Actually, it's more like keeping a warming block on your engine and engine 
sensors, so that you don't have to wait the customary  4 minutes warm-up 
before your car's computer starts running its program based on the sensors,
  and not the pre-programmed set of information it stores in ROM.

> 6.  Personal experience tells me so.  I have been an Apple Certified Tech 
> since
> 1991 and a Mac user from the Pre-Mac days.


I can say the same thing, except since 1988, and the ACT part, which 
really has no bearing on the individual components that makes up the logic 
board. No I haven't been a Mac user since those days (switched over in 99)
  but the same laws of physics apply to components regardless of who puts 
them together.

I will not be drawn into a flame war on this, so this will be my last 
input on this particular thread. I just wanted to make sure both sides are 
covered, and that the original poster has the information that he/she 
asked for.

In sum, both schools of thought have their merits, and you must choose 
what makes you feel better. If you are looking for an excuse to turn off 
at night, and this does it for you, then by all means go for it. My wife 
holds the opposite view of mine, and turns hers (imac) off every night, 
and even just after a couple hours of use at time. My iMac stays on 24/7 
(never sleeps) while my iBook stays on 24/7 but sleeps at night, and when 
not in use. The Wife's been running good since 1999, mine since 2000, and 
iBook since Nov 2001). The Kids iMac stays on 24/7 (with sleep) as 
well...just because he is too lazy to turn it off. These machines are 
probably not built with sensitive enough components that would really make 
a difference either way, and the effects would not be felt for 6-10 years 
if any.

Walt
 >>


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