The Vent and Rant Thread

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

I turn my laptop on and off once a day. Should I just leave it on all the time then? Won't it start overheating?

This has got me concerned now because my previous laptop which was a MacBook died after just 18 months and I switched that on and off daily. I can't afford to get another laptop if this one also goes caput in a short time.

I also turn my kindle on and off once per day - is this also going to cause an issue in the long run? Or will that not matter?

My wife uses a laptop as her main computer. One of the first things we did when she bought it was to purchase one of these. It draws away most of the heat produced by the computer, letting it run much more efficiently. I've seen these sold made both cheaply and much more expensively, but even the cheap plastic one that she uses has three fans, runs off USB, and only cost about $10.

Stitchawl

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

I turn my laptop on and off once a day. Should I just leave it on all the time then? Won't it start overheating?

This has got me concerned now because my previous laptop which was a MacBook died after just 18 months and I switched that on and off daily. I can't afford to get another laptop if this one also goes caput in a short time.

I also turn my kindle on and off once per day - is this also going to cause an issue in the long run? Or will that not matter?

I never turn my Powerbook g4 laptop off, I haven't in 5 years, more or less, for anything other than a clean system reboot. If you have a MacBook, I wouldn't turn it off either, just make sure that you always have at least 20% battery power. I restart mine about once a week, maybe longer. I have had my PowerBook run out of juice while it was in my bag on a long flight, but it doesn't hurt anything.

When you say your MacBook died after 18 months, how did it die? Battery? Main board? Screen? MacBooks are pretty durable, but there was a bunch that I hear people complain about a lot, these were the models before the Intel chip.

With another brand of laptop I would suggest checking the manual, some manufactures, Toshiba if I'm not mistaken, suggest that you should turn your laptop off when not using it.

I don't think there's any reason to turn a Kindle off everyday, although I have only had mine a short while, and I confess I never even looked at the manual

[TheKindleWorm]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

My wife uses a laptop as her main computer. One of the first things we did when she bought it was to purchase one of these. It draws away most of the heat produced by the computer, letting it run much more efficiently. I've seen these sold made both cheaply and much more expensively, but even the cheap plastic one that she uses has three fans, runs off USB, and only cost about $10.
Stitchawl

Thank you for that link, Stitchawl. Never seen one of those before so I should look into that.

Originally Posted by Mortis

When you say your MacBook died after 18 months, how did it die? Battery? Main board? Screen? MacBooks are pretty durable, but there was a bunch that I hear people complain about a lot, these were the models before the Intel chip.

With another brand of laptop I would suggest checking the manual, some manufactures, Toshiba if I'm not mistaken, suggest that you should turn your laptop off when not using it.

I don't think there's any reason to turn a Kindle off everyday, although I have only had mine a short while, and I confess I never even looked at the manual

With the MacBook, I just tried to boot it up one day and it wouldn't work. Hubby had a look and he couldn't get it to boot up at all even after trying out several different help tips online. There was no sound from it at all when trying to boot it. I was gutted because I saved up for so long to get a MacBook It is now sitting somewhere at the bottom of my cupboard gathering dust.

I now have a Samsung R510 Windows Vista PC. I hate the way it looks - not my style at all. However, it has been excellent to use and it was very reasonably priced when we got it. I will check the manual. Thank you

Unfortunately I had it ingrained in me from a very young age about turning everything off before going to bed - my parents were obsessive about it. So maybe I've been doing it all wrong!

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

Unfortunately I had it ingrained in me from a very young age about turning everything off before going to bed - my parents were obsessive about it. So maybe I've been doing it all wrong!

I don't know that it's wrong.
There are two opposing views on this concept, and both are valid. My wife turns her's off every night. I leave mine on every night. I've read articles by very well respected computer gurus espousing both sides of the issue. I just chose the side that worked for me. I really don't know which is best.

Stitchawl

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I don't know that it's wrong.
There are two opposing views on this concept, and both are valid. My wife turns her's off every night. I leave mine on every night. I've read articles by very well respected computer gurus espousing both sides of the issue. I just chose the side that worked for me. I really don't know which is best.

Stitchawl

Though I never turn my Kindle's off; they remain in sleep-mode when I don't read, I turn my Macbook off every night. I'm afraid that it will get damaged if we have our power supply shut off during the night or by lightning.

I'm not at all technical and I often mess up things by ' cleaning' the files on my PC. Just thinking I should clean up some files today, as I have bought a new 2TB-storage......hm. I have a time-machine now, so what can go wrong???

[nohmi2]

If I didn't switch my computer off at night my husband would do so.


I don't have much choice in the matter.

I also have a cooling device 'thingy' ( I love technical talk) for my laptop.

Cheers

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by nohmi2

I also have a cooling device 'thingy' ( I love technical talk) for my laptop.

If 'dongle' is a correct technical term, there is no reason why 'thingy' should be thought of as otherwise.


Stitchawl

[GeoffC]

Only reason we turn our main PCs off each night is to conserve electricity (like the good people we are )
One stays on cos that's connected to our seismometer, and the router stays on (despite it not being in use when the main ones are switched off )

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Dude! We're Twins! Well....except for the coffee or internet forums thing....I gotta have both and plenty of each.

LOL, I don't drink coffee at all. I'm more of a tea person though I mostly drink it when reading or watching a dvd before I go to sleep. But not not in the morning, it takes my stomach a lot longer to wake up than the rest of my body and it doesn't appreciate food or drink before it's fully awake.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Darqref

I HATE FLAKY ELECTRONICS!

..
This is a control system made by X10 corp (don't go to their website, it's got really annoying graphics) but it was also sold under several other brand-names, including Sears and RadioShack.

I played with those some 10 years ago.....junk.....sorry....

[wannabee]

My friend says ... If you need to get a message to me don't email cos I only check about once a week. I say why. He says cos it takes so long for the computer to turn on. I say, leave it on and he says are you kidding? That costs money. yeah I say, but not much. The he says how much was your last power bill. I say. About $500 for a quarter. He looks out the corner of his eye and says mine was $250. He is saving money no doubt but not with just turning his computer off. He must be turning his house off.

P.S. You might be aware we get hot in Australia. He had no real need for air con but just moved. Just installed air conditioning two days ago. I'll check his bill rate next quarter.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

With the MacBook, I just tried to boot it up one day and it wouldn't work. Hubby had a look and he couldn't get it to boot up at all even after trying out several different help tips online. There was no sound from it at all when trying to boot it. I was gutted because I saved up for so long to get a MacBook It is now sitting somewhere at the bottom of my cupboard gathering dust.

Have you tried to boot it up since putting it away? Sometimes after the batteries are completely drained they will boot up when you plug it into the mains. I assume you didn't take Apple Care, regardless, I would also try taking it to an Apple dealer, you might be surprised, it may not be all that expensive to resurrect it and if they can't they may know where you could sell it for parts.

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

Unfortunately I had it ingrained in me from a very young age about turning everything off before going to bed - my parents were obsessive about it. So maybe I've been doing it all wrong!

This seems to be a British thing, sorry, no offense meant. In North America the power mains are 110-120 volts but over here in Malaysia, and in Britain I believe, the power outlets are 220 - 240 volts. I think thats the reason there are switches on all outlets, there aren't any switches in NA or Japan, could be that British kids can't be taught not to put things in the power plugs and get fried.

Oh that was uncalled for

Seriously, I think the voltage has something to do with it, everyone here goes around turning off all the switched outlets, made me insane when I first got here, thought everything was on the fritz.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I don't know that it's wrong.
There are two opposing views on this concept, and both are valid. My wife turns her's off every night. I leave mine on every night. I've read articles by very well respected computer gurus espousing both sides of the issue. I just chose the side that worked for me. I really don't know which is best.

Stitchawl

I do BOTH. My Tivo (which is a linux PC) ran (and is running now) for 15 years or so.

The Windows Laptop I have in place of it runs constantly (but does go in to hibernate mode, etc.)

My main computer tower/desktop I shut down at night.

Generally it is on power up that a slight surge sucks on the power supply and in many models it is the most likely thing to fail. Also the cheap-ass fans can die and cause catastrophic failure due to overheating.

I believe in using them as you want, keeping everything BACKED UP!!!! and replacing as needed or as you want. Computers really are reasonable if not cheap these days.

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I do BOTH.

I believe in using them as you want, keeping everything BACKED UP!!!! and replacing as needed or as you want. Computers really are reasonable if not cheap these days.

works for me. By the way, the iPad doesn't need anything other than the modem running. unless you need some sort of video 3D super monster program file. They weren't built for that. But for this...perfect.

Oh...the keypad is a bit slower but I'm not typing a resumé here.

[pholy]

Originally Posted by Darqref

I HATE FLAKY ELECTRONICS!

This is a control system made by X10 corp (don't go to their website, it's got really annoying graphics) but it was also sold under several other brand-names, including Sears and RadioShack.

While the components used were cheap, if it works one day but not the next, the culprit may be some new appliance added recently. The power line protocol isn't very robust, and inductive devices like motors really reduce the signal strength on the line. And often the signal doesn't transfer from one leg of the 220 split to the other. I gave up on X10 some years ago, but I haven't found a replacement.