For those who 'main' their MBP, do you let it sleep?

[Star Nuts]

I disabled sleep because I hate that it will just stop a download or cancel a current task. Other than a loss of battery life, any side effects that I should be aware of, such as shortening the HDD life? If so, what about an SSD?

 

[GGJstudios]

I disabled sleep because I hate that it will just stop a download or cancel a current task. Other than a loss of battery life, any side effects that I should be aware of, such as shortening the HDD life? If so, what about an SSD?

It's fine to prevent sleep if you need to. Caffeine will temporarily override your energy saver settings and keep your Mac awake with a click on the Menu Bar icon. Another click turns it off.

To keep your Mac notebook awake with the lid closed, use InsomniaX or InsomniaT (rebuild for SL) (fix for 2011 MPBs)

NoSleep also keeps your Mac notebook awake when you close the lid.

 

[EwanMcTeagle]

It's fine to prevent sleep if you need to. Caffeine will temporarily override your energy saver settings and keep your Mac awake with a click on the Menu Bar icon. Another click turns it off.

To keep your Mac notebook awake with the lid closed, use InsomniaX or InsomniaT (rebuild for SL) (fix for 2011 MPBs)

NoSleep also keeps your Mac notebook awake when you close the lid.

Hey, do you know if any of these apps makes using external display possible with MBP in clamshell mode? If so is it in any way dangerous for the MBP? I.e. it overheats the GPU or drains the battery very quickly etc.

Thanks in advance and sorry to barge in like that

 

[heisenberg123]

Hey, do you know if any of these apps makes using external display possible with MBP in clamshell mode? If so is it in any way dangerous for the MBP? I.e. it overheats the GPU or drains the battery very quickly etc.

Thanks in advance and sorry to barge in like that

They do effect clamshell mode, your external monitor would act as if te lid on tr MBP is open

 

[ayzee]

Great tips thanks, didn't know these utilities existed!

 

[JamesGorman]

I use caffeine and love it. Just click it on when I leave the room, The screen will eventually shut off, but downloads and everything else will continue.

 

[GGJstudios]

Hey, do you know if any of these apps makes using external display possible with MBP in clamshell mode?

You don't need any of those apps for clamshell mode:
Apple Portables: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display

is it in any way dangerous for the MBP? I.e. it overheats the GPU or drains the battery very quickly etc.

No, it's not dangerous to operate in clamshell mode, as Apple notebooks are designed for that. They will not overheat. Clamshell mode requires that AC power is connected, so no, it won't drain the battery to operate in clamshell mode.

I use caffeine and love it. Just click it on when I leave the room, The screen will eventually shut off, but downloads and everything else will continue.

If the screen is shutting off, something is wrong, since Caffeine is supposed to keep the screen awake, as well.

 

[alphaod]

I leave my computer unplugged and on with Caffeine many nights. Never had an issue. I usually use my computer before sleeping, and I tend to fall asleep with the computer on.

 

[EwanMcTeagle]

You don't need any of those apps for clamshell mode:
Apple Portables: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display

No, it's not dangerous to operate in clamshell mode, as Apple notebooks are designed for that. They will not overheat. Clamshell mode requires that AC power is connected, so no, it won't drain the battery to operate in clamshell mode.

If the screen is shutting off, something is wrong, since Caffeine is supposed to keep the screen awake, as well.

Thank for your reply, though I think we have a bit of misunderstanding
I'm using MBP in clamshell mode with external display now, thus I know that the charger has to be plugged in. What I was asking (thank you iisforiphone for your answer) is if Caffeine and other apps of that sort will let me use MBP in clamshell mode without the charger as I would like to keep the battery healthy and run the computer on battery from time to time. And do to so now I have to unplug everything, take it out of the dock etc. Thus my question
But thank you for your input nonetheless

 

[RealEyes]

sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0

 

[gentlefury]

Is there a way to have it not crash or lock up after sleep?

 

[GGJstudios]

What I was asking (thank you iisforiphone for your answer) is if Caffeine and other apps of that sort will let me use MBP in clamshell mode without the charger as I would like to keep the battery healthy and run the computer on battery from time to time.

Caffeine won't keep your MBP awake with the lid closed, but the other apps will.

 

[Lord Appleseed]

I use sleep all the time. Shutdowns only once a weak or so.
In case I want to download something over night or when I am at work I just leave the lid open about 5cm, that's enough to prevent it from sleeping...of course you need to change the energy saving settings so it doesn't go to sleep after some amount of time has passed.

 

[EwanMcTeagle]

Caffeine won't keep your MBP awake with the lid closed, but the other apps will.

Ok, good to know. Thanks a lot

 

[romanator]

I set my MacBook to never sleep if I leave the lid open, and to turn off the display after 5 minutes. If I want my MacBook to sleep, I simply close it.