Always On

[airwalk331]

I just got a new macbook pro (the new 17 in w/ the high resolution display and the 7200 rpm hd).

I was wondering A. is it possible to configure it so that i can press a button and have my display go to sleep and not the rest of the laptop?

B. Is there anyway I can configure it so that when I close the lid of my laptop that it stays connected to the internet?

And finally- is there anything wrong with leaving the laptop on all the time and just putting it to sleep (closing the lid)??

 

[todd51]

A. You can always just press the button right next to the Esc key, which will bring your screen brightness down and eventually put the display to sleep. This is the quickest way I know of doing this.

B. There are programs out there on the Internet that allow the computer to continue to run (I believe one is called Insomniax or something like that) and it will not go to sleep. This will keep an internet connection, but be warned, use of such a program may cause the computer to overheat!

C. No, there is nothing wrong with putting the computer to sleep whenever your not around, in fact I usually set my screen saver during the day, and let it sleep at night.

 

[fleurya]

I typically just put mine to sleep instead of shutting down. No problems in 8 months (shutting down once in a while, of course).

I don't know why leaving it connected to the internet would overheat it. When I'm at home, I always run my MBP closed with an external monitor, keyboard and mouse and don't have any heat problems unless I'm running some heavy graphics or something intense like that.

Are you doing some heavy downloading that takes a long time? Another option might be to get something that puts the sleep on a timer if that would work for you.

 

[airwalk331]

I'm not doing heavy dowloading. I'd just like to have it stay conected for my instant messaging an email programs (so I can continue to receive messages and email).

I know that on PC laptops, I can arrange it easiy so that the PC sleeps but I remain conected to the internet while I close the lid of my laptop.

Hmmmm anyone else know of anyting?