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I just close the lid if I know I'm going to use it in the next few hours. Every now and then I'll shut it down, if I won't be using it for a day or two.
 
If the laptop isn't going anywhere (like into a backpack for a trip) then I usually just close the lid. If it is going somewhere, I shut it down before putting it into the backpack.

Although it's never happened to me, I've heard too many stories of people closing their laptop without shutting it down, and putting it into their backpack. Couple hours later they take it out, and it's hotter than a June bride on her wedding night.

I believe those are non-OSX machines. If they are, time for them to visit the Genius Bar.
 
I believe those are non-OSX machines. If they are, time for them to visit the Genius Bar.

*shrug* Don't really care much either way. It's no biggie to shut it down before placing in a backpack. With SSD, current boot time is acceptable to me. Given that, it's not worth it to me to risk it, so it gets shut down.

There's a lot more important things in my life to worry about than an extra 5 seconds of shutdown/boot time.
 
*shrug* Don't really care much either way. It's no biggie to shut it down before placing in a backpack. With SSD, current boot time is acceptable to me. Given that, it's not worth it to me to risk it, so it gets shut down.

There's a lot more important things in my life to worry about than an extra 5 seconds of shutdown/boot time.

Go back to page 2, second paragraph of post number 27. Why go the long route when the easier route is actually better for your machine. Anyway, it's your toy. :)
 
I have the rMBP so I just shut the lid, while it is sleeping (with power cord attached) it will pull down emails and download OS X updates.
 
I used to always shutdown but after reading this thread I now just close the lid. It is better for the ssd
 
I sleep mine during the day and shut it off every night. The SSD in the rMBP makes for quick booting times so it doesn't bother me.
 
Because I keep it plugged into my external monitor most of the time I have to unplug it from the charger, unplug all USB devices, wait a few seconds, then close the lid to make it sleep. Pisses me off to no end to have to jump through all those hoops.

But yeah, I just close it rather than shutting it down. Only time I really shut it down is if I have to reboot it or the battery is very low or something.

Why on earth are you going through all of that? Just leave it running in clamshell mode and turn the monitor off. I use mine at work as my main computer and this is what i've done for years.
 
Why on earth are you going through all of that? Just leave it running in clamshell mode and turn the monitor off. I use mine at work as my main computer and this is what i've done for years.

Because clamshell mode messes up my desktop and my open windows. Plus leaving the computer turned on all night wastes power.
 
Why on earth are you going through all of that? Just leave it running in clamshell mode and turn the monitor off. I use mine at work as my main computer and this is what i've done for years.

I'd say because power costs money lol
 
Because clamshell mode messes up my desktop and my open windows. Plus leaving the computer turned on all night wastes power.

Actually, the power it eats up booting up is more likely greater than stand by. The CPU has to run a ton a computations and load up a bunch of stuff to get things running again. Whereas it doesn't have to do that if you just leave it alone.

This reminds of something I heard people were told to turn off all lights and stop using power for an hour or so. Turns out, when everyone turned on their lights again it causes a spike in the power generators which actually emits more greenhouse gas. Epic Fail.
 
Actually, the power it eats up booting up is more likely greater than stand by. The CPU has to run a ton a computations and load up a bunch of stuff to get things running again. Whereas it doesn't have to do that if you just leave it alone.

This reminds of something I heard people were told to turn off all lights and stop using power for an hour or so. Turns out, when everyone turned on their lights again it causes a spike in the power generators which actually emits more greenhouse gas. Epic Fail.

The **** are you on about?

I don't shut the computer down, I just put it in sleep mode. Coming out of sleep mode doesn't use any extra power at all, and in fact booting up doesn't really use that much either, that's largely just a myth.

If you put it in clamshell mode, however, it doesn't sleep, it just runs at full power, which obviously uses more energy than putting the laptop in sleep mode.
 
Because clamshell mode messes up my desktop and my open windows. Plus leaving the computer turned on all night wastes power.

I'm not sure what you mean by "messes up your desktop", but I don't have any issues with that. The amount of juice that your Mac uses just sitting there idle is pretty minimal. I never personally shut off any of the computers I use for a number of reasons (backup at night, remote access etc...)

But, each to his own. :)
 
Because I keep it plugged into my external monitor most of the time I have to unplug it from the charger, unplug all USB devices, wait a few seconds, then close the lid to make it sleep. Pisses me off to no end to have to jump through all those hoops.

But yeah, I just close it rather than shutting it down. Only time I really shut it down is if I have to reboot it or the battery is very low or something.

Why wouldn't you just click Apple menu -> Sleep? Or am I missing something here? :confused:
 
I used to just close the lid on my 2009 MBP. Only ever shut it down for long car trips or air travel. Then about a year and a half ago it started not waking up from sleep without a hard restart. After getting the planet of doom, burning through hard drive cables, and getting a new hard drive, I still couldn't get apple to resolve that issue. Now my AppleCare has run out and I still have this issue occasionally even after disabling safe sleep and going through all of the usual fixes that apple tells you to do. I'd love to just close the lid, but now I have to shut it down if I'm not using it for longer that 5-10 minutes.
 
So is it best to close the lid and leave the power cable connected or removed?
 
Always just close the lid. Almost never shut down. Doesn't bother me that the new Macs no longer have a start up sound... never would hear it anyway.
 
It shouldn't be a problem closing the lid and leaving the Mac plugged in. If you are concerned, you can use a sure protector to turn off the Mac when not in use.
Thanks,i'll look into buy a surge protector,but not soon i guess :D
 
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