MacBook Pro - Is it bad if i NEVER turn off my computer??

MacNewbie · MacNewbie #1 (**permalink**)

06-09-2007, 10:07 PM

I only put it to sleep at night but during the day i leave it on
the only thing is i make sure to dim the screen so its completely black if i know im going to be away for a while...

is this bad for my computer??

what is the best way to set my energy settings? why is there a setting for power and then a setting for battery isnt that the same thing?

Stretch · Stretch #2 (**permalink**)

06-09-2007, 10:13 PM

The only time my iBook was ever turned off was for a system update, same with my iMac. Its not gonna kill it to be on all the time.

Kash · Kash #3 (**permalink**)

06-09-2007, 10:57 PM

I think the first time I actually shut my Macbook down was about 2 or 3 months after I bought it. Since then, I've probably done it one more time. So in the past 6 months, I've only shut down my Macbook twice.

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

06-09-2007, 11:06 PM

All of my computers run 24/7. Including my MBP.

MinaMACMan · MinaMACMan #5 (**permalink**)

06-09-2007, 11:12 PM

Great, Thread. As I was wondering the same thing.

But honestly with my MacBook it doesn't really matter because it turns on so fast it doesn't matter if I turn it off or not. Nonetheless the thought crossed my mind.

Thanks.

snoslicer8 · snoslicer8 #6 (**permalink**)

06-10-2007, 12:01 AM

I was under the impression that Macs are/were designed to be turned on all the time, unless you are going to be away from them for a period of more than 2-3 days. I believe it is even stated in a user manual or system introduction somewhere that Apple recommends using sleep for any period of downtime less than 2-3 days.

B&O · B&O #7 (**permalink**)

06-10-2007, 12:34 AM

I thought they should be rebooted once every 13days. There is a reason for this but I can remember it.

eric · eric #8 (**permalink**)

06-10-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B&O

I thought they should be rebooted once every 13days. There is a reason for this but I can remember it.

and you should never feed them after midnight...

Osiris22x · Osiris22x #9 (**permalink**)

06-10-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B&O

I thought they should be rebooted once every 13days. There is a reason for this but I can remember it.

Windows XP had a bug that made it crash every 13 days, perhaps that's what you're thinking of?

I have a Mac Mini server that hasn't been rebooted in over a year, and it runs with no problems. My MacBook Pro only get shut down for upgrades, that's it. There's really no reason to turn off your Macs. Sleep mode is just fine and uses almost no power.

TheStranger55 · TheStranger55 #10 (**permalink**)

06-10-2007, 06:12 PM

It never hurts to turn off your computer once in a while to get rid of the contents in your ram and start a fresh when you turn it back on again.

giulio · giulio #11 (**permalink**)

06-10-2007, 07:04 PM

Leaving the computers on allows the periodic (daily/weekly/monthly) cleanup scripts to run. So it actually better to keep the machine on all the time.
But if you're not going to use it for days... you might as well give it a rest.

dyinginavan · dyinginavan #12 (**permalink**)

06-11-2007, 03:51 AM

When you guys mean "turn off", do you mean actually shut down or sleep? I shut it down overnight but it can go in and out of sleep maybe 4-5 times a day. Is that okay?

joshbrez · joshbrez #13 (**permalink**)

06-11-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyinginavan

When you guys mean "turn off", do you mean actually shut down or sleep? I shut it down overnight but it can go in and out of sleep maybe 4-5 times a day. Is that okay?

I'm assuming that everyone means a literal shut down when they say "turn off". I'd say that going in and out of sleep throughout the day is alright. And regarding shutting down: I think the last time I did a complete shutdown of my MBP was in the middle of March, when I was away from it for about a week. It's been on continuously since then, and I've had no problems.

MACyMouse · MACyMouse #14 (**permalink**)

06-15-2007, 04:39 PM

Mine never shuts down... not even when i cart it back and forth to work, I just shut the lid and shove it my case. I'll reboot for software updates but I never shut mine down.

As for the original posters second questions.... the battery settings are for running off your battery to save the battery from dying quicker.. power options are used for when you're mac is plugged into an outlet.

core20 · core20 #15 (**permalink**)

06-15-2007, 08:38 PM

shut down everynight, then turn on in the morning and sleep sometimes throughout the day. Although after reading some of these comments I think I will start to leave it on for tonight but, in sleep and carry this out for about two or three days and shut down every 3 or 4 days instead of everynight...

thanks for the infor... wasn't sure myself..

Stretch #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 13, 2007 Location: Central New York Posts: 4,614 Mac Specs: 15in i7 MacBook Pro, 8GB RAM, 60GB SSD, 500GB HD	06-09-2007, 10:13 PM The only time my iBook was ever turned off was for a system update, same with my iMac. Its not gonna kill it to be on all the time. Blog and Photo Gallery: http://philolin.me/ Currently running OS X 10.8.2
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,826 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	06-09-2007, 11:06 PM All of my computers run 24/7. Including my MBP. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

snoslicer8 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 18, 2006 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 471 Mac Specs: 15" Unibody MBP 2.4 Ghz C2D, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD, 320 GB Time Machine HDD, 1 TB Ext Media Drive	06-10-2007, 12:01 AM I was under the impression that Macs are/were designed to be turned on all the time, unless you are going to be away from them for a period of more than 2-3 days. I believe it is even stated in a user manual or system introduction somewhere that Apple recommends using sleep for any period of downtime less than 2-3 days. MacBook Air Unibody Core i5 1.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, iPhone 4S 32 GB White
	QUOTE Thanks

giulio #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 19, 2007 Location: NY USA Posts: 1,813 Mac Specs: iMac 5.1 \| iMac 7.1 \| iPod Touch \| iPod Nano	06-10-2007, 07:04 PM Leaving the computers on allows the periodic (daily/weekly/monthly) cleanup scripts to run. So it actually better to keep the machine on all the time. But if you're not going to use it for days... you might as well give it a rest. Freelance Web Development schweb This has to be one of the best threads ever in MF history... Cherokee This gets my vote for most innovative thread on Mac-Forums... ever.
	QUOTE Thanks

dyinginavan #12 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2007 Posts: 85	06-11-2007, 03:51 AM When you guys mean "turn off", do you mean actually shut down or sleep? I shut it down overnight but it can go in and out of sleep maybe 4-5 times a day. Is that okay? -Donna.
	QUOTE Thanks

MacBook Pro - Is it bad if i NEVER turn off my computer??

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MacNewbie #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 409	06-09-2007, 10:07 PM I only put it to sleep at night but during the day i leave it on the only thing is i make sure to dim the screen so its completely black if i know im going to be away for a while... is this bad for my computer?? what is the best way to set my energy settings? why is there a setting for power and then a setting for battery isnt that the same thing?
	QUOTE Thanks

MinaMACMan #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 16, 2007 Location: Redwood City, CA / Stanford, CA Posts: 1,792 Mac Specs: MacBook, Black, 2.0GHz C2D, 2GB RAMs, 160GB HD	06-09-2007, 11:12 PM Great, Thread. As I was wondering the same thing. But honestly with my MacBook it doesn't really matter because it turns on so fast it doesn't matter if I turn it off or not. Nonetheless the thought crossed my mind. Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

B&O #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 18, 2007 Location: Brit in Tokyo. Posts: 745 Mac Specs: MBP i7, Mac Mini & iPhone 3G.	06-10-2007, 12:34 AM I thought they should be rebooted once every 13days. There is a reason for this but I can remember it.
	QUOTE Thanks

TheStranger55 #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 25	06-10-2007, 06:12 PM It never hurts to turn off your computer once in a while to get rid of the contents in your ram and start a fresh when you turn it back on again.
	QUOTE Thanks

MACyMouse #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 25, 2004 Location: Australia (American born) Posts: 710 Mac Specs: MBP 15" 2006 \| 2011 21.5in iMac-1tb-i5-12gig \| iPhone 3gs	06-15-2007, 04:39 PM Mine never shuts down... not even when i cart it back and forth to work, I just shut the lid and shove it my case. I'll reboot for software updates but I never shut mine down. As for the original posters second questions.... the battery settings are for running off your battery to save the battery from dying quicker.. power options are used for when you're mac is plugged into an outlet.
	QUOTE Thanks

core20 #15 (permalink)
Member Since: May 06, 2007 Posts: 178 Mac Specs: Mac Book Pro 17" 2GB Ram, Intel Core Duo	06-15-2007, 08:38 PM shut down everynight, then turn on in the morning and sleep sometimes throughout the day. Although after reading some of these comments I think I will start to leave it on for tonight but, in sleep and carry this out for about two or three days and shut down every 3 or 4 days instead of everynight... thanks for the infor... wasn't sure myself..
	QUOTE Thanks

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