do you leave your laptop on?

[pokerpills]

I just bought a docking station for my laptop and will be using it as the sole computer now(my laptop outperforms the desktop). I wanted to get some of your opinions on whether or not I should turn it off everytime I'm finished. I've heard some conflicting views. Some say turn it off because the constant off/on is worse than leaving it on. Others say turn it off because too much heat will damage some components. What do you think? This is a laptop less than 3 months old. I'm kind of leaning towards leaving it on.

 

[Dante]

I turn it off when im done with it for the day only...no sense leaving it on for 8 hrs while your sleeping when not in use IMO

 

[pokerpills]

What's the most days you have left your laptop on without turning it off?

 

[Dante]

0

 

[RobFunk]

My idea of powering down my laptop is to just slam the top shut.

That's it. I dont exit out of anything, I dont properly shut down windows, I just throw it in standby which also disconects it from the internet.

 

[sherman]

sometimes i leave it on for weeks at a time but i dont know what you are supposed to do....

 

[pokerpills]

I've left a desktop on at work for months without turning it off with no problems. But since all the parts are so compacted in a laptop, I wonder if there might be heat issues. Any computer experts out there?

 

[Santo]

PC's (Laptops included) perform better when they're not turned off than if you keep turning them off. A light bulb doesn't blow in continuous use, just when turned on and off repeatedly. My laptop only goes off for reboots -- overnight (UK time) it's either streaming a baseball commentary from MLB Gameday Audio or ESPN radio for me to doze off to and listen to when I wake up.

 

[pokerpills]

PC's (Laptops included) perform better when they're not turned off than if you keep turning them off. A light bulb doesn't blow in continuous use, just when turned on and off repeatedly. My laptop only goes off for reboots -- overnight (UK time) it's either streaming a baseball commentary from MLB Gameday Audio or ESPN radio for me to doze off to and listen to when I wake up.

Santo, you havent had any overheating problems even when left weeks on? Thanks.

 

[Santo]

No,

But, that being said, mine is properly ventilated, on a table with holes drilled for that purpose (to allow heat to escape, rather than build between table and laptop and thus seep into laptop) and with a fan on it (and me) nearby.

If it's properly ventilated, you'll be fine. Also if you're going out with it on, make sure your house or the laptop socket and network connection/modem is surge protected, lest a freak thunderstorm hit and burn it up (speaking from experience).

 

[RobFunk]

it's either streaming a baseball commentary from MLB Gameday Audio or ESPN radio for me to doze off to and listen to when I wake up.

That's interesting. Probably easier to fall asleep to than TV.

 

[pokerpills]

Thanks. Good tips. I'm going to reconstruct my desk this weekend. I was only asking because I need to leave my laptop on for days sometimes weeks for several monitoring programs I use.

No,

But, that being said, mine is properly ventilated, on a table with holes drilled for that purpose (to allow heat to escape, rather than build between table and laptop and thus seep into laptop) and with a fan on it (and me) nearby.

If it's properly ventilated, you'll be fine. Also if you're going out with it on, make sure your house or the laptop socket and network connection/modem is surge protected, lest a freak thunderstorm hit and burn it up (speaking from experience).

 

[Santo]

Lines monitoring programs?

What do you use? I wrote my own, but it's a bit primitive as it screen scrapes, and books keep changing their format ever so slightly to defeat us..

 

[pokerpills]

No, they are work related programs. :sad3:

 

[PixWinns]

Hello

I've had my Laptop for over a year and it's turned on for long periods of time. If I can add, It works just as the first day I purchased it.

So in my opinion, it's the same as a desktop.

Thanks.

 

[Doug]

I don't know the answer but I turn it off when I'm not using it ! Isn't leaving a CRT montor on about the same as leaving a 75-watt bulb on in terms of electricity consumption ? I don't care if the giant desk-top monitor dies, for now I'll turn the lap-top off if not in use, unless you guys convince me I shouldn't ! It seems wrong to leave it on unused !

 

[victorygallop]

mine gets real hot the longer its on.

so i turn it off when not using.

my desktop stays on for weeks.

 

[wolfie_cr]

I suggest that you use the hibernate mode as much as you can

With desktops you typically have to replace the cpu fan or power supply , those are the parts that wear off faster .......its not very easy to replace them in a laptop, my laptop after almost 3 years is having some noise in the cpu fan......I will probably have to start looking for a replacement soon