Question about sleep/screensaver

[chrisyc]

So this is probably a very stupid question especially since I'm not totally new to macs, but... I just need some clarification.

When I leave my MBP on for awhile, my screen goes black. It isn't asleep because my programs are still going and it isn't my screensaver because my screensaver isn't just black. What's going on? By the way, my programs still work.

 

[pranavss11]

display turns off. You can change the settings in Settings -> Energy thingy

 

[chrisyc]

display turns off. You can change the settings in Settings -> Energy thingy

Thanks for the quick reply. That really helps... but what exactly is the difference between screensaver and when the display turns off? (obviously except the image for the screensaver)

Also, if I am leaving my MBP on overnight for a long process to complete, is a screensavor or just turning off the display good enough? Or are there better alternatives? Because I know by putting it to sleep, it does not process anything.

Thank you

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Screensaver will not interrupt any processes going on. Turning off the display will. Turning off the display makes the computer go into sleep mode, which will shut any processes and connections (bluetooth, network, etc). Make sure the screensaver starts before the display turns off, so you can actually see the screensaver, whatever it may be.

For long processes, I would set the turn display off setting to never, and resort to dimming the display. This way, it doesn't bother my when I'm sleeping, nor does it interrupt my work.

 

[pranavss11]

Screensaver will not interrupt any processes going on. Turning off the display will. Turning off the display makes the computer go into sleep mode, which will shut any processes and connections (bluetooth, network, etc). Make sure the screensaver starts before the display turns off, so you can actually see the screensaver, whatever it may be.

For long processes, I would set the turn display off setting to never, and resort to dimming the display. This way, it doesn't bother my when I'm sleeping, nor does it interrupt my work.

From what I remember (and I am not on my MacBook to check) there are 3 options in Energy saver:
1. Screensaver
2. Display
3. Sleep

when the display turns off, it does not necessarily mean the mac is entering sleep mode it simply means that the laptop is trying to conserve energy by turning off the display. IF you have the settings for display and sleep to be the same then the laptop enters sleep mode and display off at the same time.. I think you might be confusing somethings here for OP and yourself or maybe I am.

 

[kastenbrust]

You dont want to be leaving a screensaver on for extended periods of time on your Macbook Pro because the screen is lit using LED Backlighting, and this doesnt burn into the screen like old CRT monitors used to. So there is no use for screensavers nowadays, theyre just relics, throwbacks to the time of CRT monitors. Leaving a screensaver on is just slowly burning away at the backlights life, (all LED backlights get dimmer the longer you leave them on, after a year comparing an Old MBP to a New one this is noticable).

 

[chrisyc]

First of all, thanks for all your guys' answers.

Second, from what I understand, waiting for the display to turn off would work be my best bet if I'm waiting for a long torrent or something to finish. In sleep, torrents do not work and screensavers still use LED backlighting? Does this still apply to black screensavers? (That probably sounded really stupid, but I downloaded a black screensaver and I found the black screensaver looked a little lighter than turning off the display.)

Thanks everyone.