question for computer people

[ftangredi]

What are the relative merits of turning off my computer when I'm done versus putting it on standby/sleep?

At the office, they tell us not to turn it off, but I'm not sure what the reason is.

Thanks.

Comments

[cheezchick]

They might tell you not to turn it off if they run updates at night.

[evwhore]

Two possible reasons off the top of my head:

1. I think there used to be a concern that more wear and tear occurred on startup than to simply keep things going. Also possible issues of thermal expansion/contraction etc. Whether this was ever scientifically true, and/or whether manufacturing quality has gotten better or whatever, I don't know.

2. Many large organizations have centralized systems for pushing software updates, anti-virus, etc. to everyone's PC, but it obviously only works if the PC is on.

[quinquennia]

I've read that it causes more wear and tear starting it up all the time, as well as it increases the odds that something won't be configured correctly when you reboot a computer.

[olaugh]

I leave my computers at home and work for convenience, so I don't have to reboot and reopen my programs, and also so I can log in remotely when I need to. Shutting them down would save on electricity. At home, no one else needs to connect to your computer for administration or updates, so that reason for leaving it on doesn't carry over to home.

[skin_it_mahatma]

i am told that you should unplug tv, radio, microwave etc when you go away on vacation or long weekend because these draw current as log as they are hooked to the outlets.

computers might be a different story due to reasons mentioned above.