Stupid computer question

[rayfieldclement]

I have a Dell Inspiron 530/531

I want to know is it advisable to leave my computer on when not in use or should I turn it off when not in use. What are your opinions. I have a wireless network.

 

[ky54]

Really, it's the users choice anymore. There used to be some very good reasons (hard drive shock) back some years ago to leave the machine running but with more "modern" equipment of the last 5 years or so leaving them running isn't quite as important. I used to always leave all my computers running 24/7 but with the newer hard drives I always shut them off at the end of the day. Unless you're crunching (distributed computing) or running a server I see no reason to leave them running and with the economy the way it is saving a few pennies on the electric bill can't hurt either.

 

[Scout80]

I only leave my server running 24/7. It saves a couple bucks on the electric bill because they aren't constantly drawing power and they aren't heating up my office.

My biggest decision factor is that my computers boot in about 1 min so i don't really save much time leaving them on/sleeping/hibernating.

 

[bononos]

I have a Dell Inspiron 530/531

I want to know is it advisable to leave my computer on when not in use or should I turn it off when not in use. What are your opinions. I have a wireless network.

Turn them off. You're not going to damage anything.

 

[Charlie98]

My biggest decision factor is that my computers boot in about 1 min so i don't really save much time leaving them on/sleeping/hibernating.

^^^ That.

My old desktop Dell I would sleep, it saved a little time waking up vs. booting up when I was using it off and on during the day, but I turned it off if I was going to be away for more than a few hours.

 

[paul878]

Put the Computer to sleep when you are not using it.

 

[mfenn]

I agree, OEM computers are very good about sleep/resume. Just set it to go to sleep after being idle for an hour or so.