Questions about Sleep Mode

[tkreece]

Hello Everyone

I'm new to Macs as well as this forum. I recently got a Macbook Pro (which I must say I LOVE) for College and so I am very new to it. I did figure out what the equivalent of a "right-click" is, which seems to be a reoccurring question on here.

I had been talking to my friend, who is a long time Mac user, about sleep mode. He told me he had left his computer on for several months using this. He also said it was alright to move your computer around while it was in sleep mode.

I don't doubt him, but I want to be totally sure these things are healthy for my computer before I start doing them.

So I'll list out my questions:

1. What exactly happens when the computer goes into sleep mode, does the hard drive stop running? What is left powered up?

2. Is it okay to leave the computer in sleep mode for extended periods of time, like several months? Does this wear and tear on the computer or does it have an negative effects at all?

3. I know that while my computer is open, the hard drive is running. Is it okay for me to move short distances while it is open (for example, from one story of my house to another, or even smaller distances of like my computer chair to my bed)? Or should I put my Mac in sleep mode to move it around?

4. Finally, I know it is okay to move around with the computer while it is in sleep mode, but are there limits to its mobility? For example, could I turn the computer on it's side? up-side-down? Could I turn it up-side-down and shake it around (I don't envision myself doing these sorts of things but you get the point)? Basically, can i go anywhere and do anything to my computer mobility-wise, without damaging it?

5. I guess this relates to the last question but it was so long and I wanted a specific answer to this so I separated them. Can i put my computer in my backpack and ride around campus on bumpy buses, and possibly run around campus, and it will still be okay?

Thanks

 

[66217]

1. What exactly happens when the computer goes into sleep mode, does the hard drive stop running? What is left powered up?

Yep. If I am correct only the RAM memory stays active.

2. Is it okay to leave the computer in sleep mode for extended periods of time, like several months? Does this wear and tear on the computer or does it have an negative effects at all?

No problem here. You'll find only restarting your computer when installing software that needs it.

3. I know that while my computer is open, the hard drive is running. Is it okay for me to move short distances while it is open (for example, from one story of my house to another, or even smaller distances of like my computer chair to my bed)? Or should I put my Mac in sleep mode to move it around?

Just be careful not to move a lot your Mac (don't run and jump). Aside from that, it is perfectly safe to walk while the laptop is open.

4. Finally, I know it is okay to move around with the computer while it is in sleep mode, but are there limits to its mobility? For example, could I turn the computer on it's side? up-side-down? Could I turn it up-side-down and shake it around (I don't envision myself doing these sorts of things but you get the point)? Basically, can i go anywhere and do anything to my computer mobility-wise, without damaging it?

Yep. Do have in mind that the battery will eventually run out if you leave it for a long time in sleep mode. When going to college I would drop my MB into my backpack (sometimes with many books being there also), and so far, it has survived for two years and is still in perfect condition. Not a scratch yet.

5. I guess this relates to the last question but it was so long and I wanted a specific answer to this so I separated them. Can i put my computer in my backpack and ride around campus on bumpy buses, and possibly run around campus, and it will still be okay?

See my last answer. Just use common sense, when you feel like the laptop might be suffering damage, stop and look at it. Make sure everything is OK and then continue trying to be more careful. I have ran, jumped, and one time a friend, thinking I didn't had my laptop in the backpack, threw the backpack on the backseat of the car. Nothing happened.

 

[CrzyCanuck72]

1. The hard drive stops running, but AFAIK RAM is still powered, which is what allows you to wake the computer to the same state it was in. For all intents and purposes, it's very similar to the computer being powered off

2. Would the computer be in use in that time, or would it be stored away and never used?

If the former, I don't think that's a problem. I notice that my MacBook slows down a bit when it's been used continuously for a couple weeks, so every couple weeks I will turn it off for the night.

If the latter, no, that's not a good idea, it should be powered off if it's not going to be in use for more than a couple days.

3. It's fine to move it around the house while the computer is on. Just don't make sudden movements with it, don't carry it anyway except upright, especially don't hold it by the screen (I have seen people do this, it amazes me), and don't drop it

4. I wouldn't shake it around, but yes, turning it upside down or on its side while it's asleep is fine

5. It will be fine, just don't throw your backpack around while the computer is in it.