[LINK] Leave on, or turn off?

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Howard Lowndes wrote:
> 
> 
> Stewart Fist wrote:
> 
>> Has anyone got a reference to a real bit of reliable research which says
>> whether it is better to turn a computer off at night, or leave it on 24/7
>> (disregarding energy consumption) ?
>>
>> I guess the question resolves into
>> a) the electronics, and
>> b) hard-disk-bearing wear.
>>
>> I've got plenty of so-called 'expert' opinion (mostly in favour of 
>> leaving
>> computers on), but this seems essentially to be anecdotal only.
> 
> 
> Anecdotally, my experience is that those machines which give more 
> trouble are those which are subjected to thermal shock mostly be being 
> regularly tuned off and on, which usually causes memory modules or PCI 
> card connection to become random.
> 
> Economically you need to offset the cost of the occasional service to 
> rectify such faults against the cost or 24/7 operation.
> 
> My money says, leave it on, but turn the CRT off - I've seen them catch 
> fire.

my current laptop has been turned on and off and moved an average of 
once a day since october 2003 
(http://www.ramin.com.au/linux/linux-log1.html)
...touch wood it hasn't had any problems.... the fan is a bit noisy.

my previous laptop ran from  Feb 1997 until jan 2004...under the same 
conditions different brand different operating system...

If you dig around, you will probably find tales of computers that have 
been running continuously for a lot longer...and everyone is hoping they 
don't break down as no one knows what they really do and how to fix them.

I remember around 1989, the macintosh power supplies had a very high 
rate of failure...leaving them on might have helped....

...perhaps the environmental concerns should not be excluded.

m
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au/eco-sydney
Telephone: 0414-869202
Ramin Communications Pty Ltd
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