Sunday, July 21, 2013

In Love with Sleep (Sleep Mode, That Is)

OK, I realize that I'm probably in the minority here, but I am one of the few dinosaurs left who still uses a desktop computer.


I bought it six and a half years ago when I quit my job and was working both long hours on my web pages every day as well as doing some visual basic and MS Access programming work, because I wanted something that was both reliable and easy for me to maintain. And I have to say that it has lived up to both of those expectations.

I've had to replace about a half dozen parts over the years and upgrade the operating system and software, but in general it still serves me quite well.


But, for my birthday this year CatMan decided to bring me into the modern era and got me a nice shiny new tablet.

The tablet's been sort of a mixed bag. It suffered from a case of "infant mortality" and had to be sent back to the factory within a month or so to have its innards replaced, but since then it has functioned perfectly.


And while it's great for certain applications, find it really hard to imagine using it as an only computer. I know in many ways it has the same capabilities as a "real" computer, and I did buy a keyboard for it because typing on the touch screen was enough to drive me completely batty - but I'd be hard pressed to imagine trying to program on it or do any meaningful amount of writing without a full sized ergonomic keyboard (yes, I'm writing this from my desktop.)

I guess I sorta look at it more as a toy than a real computer.



But there was one thing about the tablet that I found to be absolutely wonderful. You could just put it into sleep mode instead of shutting it completely down and then when you want it you just touch one button and voila, it's on! No waiting for 15 minutes for the thing to boot or leaving it on all day so you don't have to deal with the boot process.



Then one night as I was shutting it down, I actually decided to read the list of options on the shut down menu. Yes, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'd never done that before. And much to my surprise I noticed that "sleep" was one of the choices!

Silly me! I knew that there was the option of having the computer go into sleep mode if it was "inactive" for xyz period of time, but I'd had to disable that feature because I often use the computer for streaming movies and other videos, and it kept falling asleep in the middle of my movies! Not cool!


Anyhow, I'm very happy with my new discovery. Now, whenever I'm not using it, I just put it into sleep mode and it goes away! I'm pretty sure I'm saving a bunch of electricity, plus there's just something emotionally better about not having the thing on all the time.


Better for the planet, and better for me! Yay!


How 'bout you? Any happy discoveries lately?

35 comments :

  1. No exciting discoveries for me, but I also can't imagine only having a tablet. I use my tablet a lot (now, for instance) but I can't upload and edit photos from my digital SLR on the tablet, so I still need my desktop! Although I will type comments and short notes on the tablet, I can't imagine writing anything substantial on it..

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    1. That's a great point about the pictures. I also do a lot of work with a graphics tablet (it's basically a pad with a stylus that lets you draw or write). I suppose it's possible that you could use the touch screen on the tablet for the same purpose but I don't know if I could install all of my photo editing and graphics software. Plus, it only has a mini usb port so I'm not sure how I'd get the photos in there to start with. And then there's the storage issue - but I guess the idea is to store everything in "the cloud". I dunno though... it's a bit of a leap for me.

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    2. I'm pretty sure that I worked out that it is not possible to transfer photos from camera to tablet..I like having things backed up on external hard drive, rather than 'the cloud'...also not possible to transfer from my tablet!

      I think if both my desktop and PC died, I would combine the two and get a laptop...

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  2. Having a laptop, it's a bit easier to just close it and let it go to sleep. However, I probably don't do that often enough, so will try and remember :)

    I'm currently on a "business" trip visiting rural schools, and was very happy to work out how to play music from my phone through the bluetooth in the rental car. It made a long trip a lot less boring!

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    1. Oh my... phones play music these days? And I must confess that I'm not exactly sure what bluetooth is, but I know it's something wireless. Anyhow, congratulations on your discovery! :-)

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  3. I still prefer my desktop with its large keyboard and monitor. I have a smaller laptop, but mostly use it for travel. I have not yet gone to the world of i-pads or smart phones, but I feel it coming. But for the meantime, what I have does a great job of meeting my needs.

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    1. I'm sure the day will come when I'll have to graduate to a smart phone, but until that time I'm content to live in the world where phones are dumb and people are smart!

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  4. Just yesterday, I bought the new Microsoft Surface RT tablet to get me through college. My old laptop has seen better days and while it's not completely dead yet, the tablet was €150 off so I jumped with both hands.

    I'm getting on fine with it currently. It has any programs that I need for college on it and it's so much more portable and efficient than a 15.6" laptop that has to be kept pulled in at all times. I call that a win-win.

    Ask me again in a couple of weeks what I think of the tablet - hopefully I'm not ready to fire it off a wall or anything :P

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    1. I hope you enjoy your tablet. Did you get a keyboard with it? The thing I can't figure is how anyone can touch type on those things. But maybe my hands are just too used to the spacing of a regular keyboard after so many years of doing it this way.

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    2. Yeah I got a free touch keyboard with it. It's actually something you get very used to. I mean, you're not going to type properly on a touch screen but you'll get faster in your own way and all. I like having the keyboard though for essays and stuff like that.

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  5. I am with you for sure. I use my desktop most of all. I'm a touch typist and need a real keyboard if I'm writing anything. I have a desktop and a laptop. If I get the job I am in the running for, I'll have to get a smartphone (because of the amount of travel). A tablet or e-reader will probably follow so I can read trade journals during my down time to prepare for my presentations.

    OK, I also have a spare back-up laptop and five flat screen monitors. And a bunch of peripheral devices hooked to my desktop. We're both geeks, I guess!

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    1. Another touch typist here... and I can't imagine trying to write anything meaningful any other way. I can type soooo much faster than I can write by hand or, heaven forbid, hunt and peck.

      Hmmmmm... your basement must look like mine! I've been trying to week through and declutter some of the old computer stuff recently. I finally did get rid of the dial up modems last year! :-)

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  6. Well, if it makes you feel better, I am the most dinosaur-ish of any of you so far. We have a desktop. Yup, that's it. And stupidphones. I'm sure the day is coming when we will need to get more tech-y, but for right now, we only NEED a desktop. I would kinda like a smartphone, but I can't honestly call it a "need". Neither my husband nor I need anything additional for our workplaces. My kids are still young and a desktop serves their school needs. I mostly worry that I'm not keeping up with technology and I'll make myself old before my time, but hopefully if I need to, I'll be able to catch up quickly. Or I'll watch Lawrence Welk and talk about the good ole days ...

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    1. Ha! Cue the bubble machine! (the young ones won't get that joke)

      I'm enjoying the tablet, but it's certainly not something I would have purchased for myself. It's nice to be "untethered" sometimes though, and I'm finding that more and more I use it to watch videos instead of firing up the tv or computer. I have myself convinced that it's more energy efficient that way, but I'm not actually sure. :-)

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  7. You're not alone! We thought we were being smart by buying my husband an ipad for his deployment rather than a laptop. But he felt the same as you - it's nice for watching videos and playing games, but not the best for typing emails or transferring files. I ended up buying a (new to us) laptop for me to use and mailing him our laptop. Oh well - you win some, you lose some, right?

    Glad to hear about your a-ha moment. I hope you can tell a difference on your next electric bill :)

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    1. It would be very nice if there was a noticeable difference on the electric bill, though I'm not holding my breath. I did finally succeed in eating my way through the food in the big chest freezer though (well, most of it) so it's currently unplugged and defrosted until its needed for storing garden surplus. So that will probably have the most impact on the electricity bill - though with the heat recently it might be completely offset by the air conditioner!

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    2. At our old place, unplugging the chest freezer saved us $10/month! We don't have one at our current house and I really don't miss it ;) Stuff always got forgotten in there because it was out of the way so I was happy to be rid of it.

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    3. It certainly can turn into a black hole if you let it. But since I have a fear of botulism, I haven't worked up the courage to try canning, so it really is the best way to save garden produce. Hopefully I'll get enough of a harvest this year to make it worthwhile.

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  8. I still love using an external keyboard & 2nd monitor for my work latpop: I'm too used to all the screen real estate the extra monitor gives me, and I am addicted to using my number pad.

    My happy discovery lately is finding out that I can make pretty good fried chicken. It is awesome. It may kill me, but I don't care.

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    1. I hear you, especially with the keyboard. My fingers are just too accustomed to the full sized keys to be able to get anything but garbage out of those small keyboards!

      Congratulations on your fried chicken discovery, it sounds yummy!

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  9. At the vet's today I got told that I was a good pet owner for bringing my cats in on a regular basis (but I wish they would stop pushing the teeth cleaning) after my one cat growled, hissed, spit at, and eventually clawed the vet, and the clawing was done AFTER the vet had injected him with a sedative and was pulling his hands back to avoid getting clawed. And all that happened while my cat was restrained by an experienced vet tech. It also was confirmed that my cat was indeed one of the hardest cats to handle, after years of saying his file was black flagged.

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    1. "black flagged" Yikes! I had a cat send a vet tech (plus me and my best friend) to the emergency room once. She was in a LOT of pain, so I don't blame her. But holy moly! She bit clean through my best friend's thumbnail!

      Anyhow, hope all your kitties are well (if a tad bit grumpy!)

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    2. Black flagged was a joke, but at least the vet's hasn't told us not to come back. Same cat also got scared and managed to someone scratch my spouse's eyelid, which required stitches, so I know all about emergency visits.

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    3. One of my cats (the black one) does have a tag on his folder that says he is hard to handle. They never go near him without a towel to wrap him in. In his defense, he was okay until he had to have an operation. He has always been extra aggregated since them at the vet's.

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    4. darchole: OK, stitches in the eyelid sounds pretty horrible. Hope everything turned out ok!

      Live and learn: Spotty used to LOVE people, even strangers, until he got fixed. At the time I used a mobile vet, so now I think he's afraid that anybody who comes to the door is the vet coming to take more of his manhood!

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  10. I got a MAC tower for basically nothing which eats up a LOT of electricity. I shut it down each night and actually unplug it from the wall. Kind of a pain...

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    1. I used to have everything on a powerstrip that I'd turn off each night, but it caused all sorts of trouble with the modem. I'm sure it's still using some energy when it's "sleeping" but since it's on for FAR fewer hours per day this way I'm pretty sure it's working out in my favor.

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  11. I don't like being tethered to a desktop. Sitting for a long period of time in one place is hard on me. So I like having a laptop. Instead of purchasing the laptop I thought I wanted I purchased a notebook. Funny thing is the keys are much larger than on any of the laptops. I will miss my number pad but love this keyboard for ease of use. With a laptop I have to keep my nails so short to keep from hitting the wrong keys. I don't think I would enjoy a touch screen, I've had enough of touch screens with the phone :-) One other consideration for me was the space a desktop takes up. I had dreamed of having my place appear tech free. So now with no TV, bulky computer or other equipment I can put the laptop away and make my place appear to have none. I have hidden the wireless modem under the loveseat even! Oh, and yes I do listen to my music on the phone, uses much less electricity than the clock radio with the CD player.

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    1. Gotta say that I'm envious in terms of the space thing. And BTW, I thought notebooks and laptops were the same, what's the difference?

      Not being tethered would be nice, but I've got such finicky wrists that I just can't imagine surviving without my ergo keyboard and wrist holder upper thing.

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  12. OK not only am I a dinosaur, I didn't even know using a desktop computer made me a dinosaur.
    So I'll add that to my no cell phones of any kind(we still have our phones attached to walls by a cord) and no cable or Netflix.
    I do have 2 kitties-does that count for anything:)
    Marie

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    1. OK, you've got me beat in dinosaur status! I do have a cell phone that I only use for emergencies. CatMan got it for my years ago when I still worked at the music school because I didn't get off work until after 10 and he worried about me driving home alone after dark.

      Actually, now that you mention it, the VAST majority of my technological possessions were gifts from CatMan. If it weren't for him I'd still be operating with an old style TV, VCR (still blinking 12:00) and a corded telephone! And I certainly wouldn't have gotten into computers without his influence.

      And kitties count for everything in my book!

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  13. Desktop & no cell phone. I've never used a laptop & any time I've used someone else's cell phone, they had to dial for me (keys are too small for my fat fingers) & hang up for me (writing on the keys too small to read). I'm proud to be called a dinosaur - I love dinosaurs, especially Stegosaurs & Triceratops!

    Guess my recent discovery is that it's good to have a cell phone if you have an accident on the interstate. Oh, well just another kick in the pants for me.

    ECL, I positively adore the photo of the kitten sleeping on the keyboard. Too, too darling.

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    1. Oh man... an accident on the interstate does not sound good. Just driving on the interstate scares the pants off of me! Hope everything is OK.

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  14. After my desktop died 2 years ago in a move, I bought a laptop to replace it. I like the mobility, but I still plug the screen and keyboard into it regularly and use it at the desk so that I have proper ergonomics and can touch type.

    My happy discovery of late (with your much needed help) has been figuring out how to comment on your blog by turning off the 3rd party cookie block! Such a simple fix in the end - thanks again.

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    1. I'm so glad that it worked, and that you can comment now.

      Actually a laptop with a real keyboard might be a good option at some point, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. :-)

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