Here are three good reasons (in my opinion anyway) to power down your computer.

  1. Less access time for hackers, virus, spyware, etc. If your computer’s on, someone might try to attack it. Even with good computer security protection programs, new problems are found all the time. If you only use your home computer for 4 hours in the evening, why leave it on for 8 hours when you’re sleeping.
  2. Reduce your energy bill; computers do use energy. Ever put a laptop on your lap? I find this is especially true of desktop monitors. Sometimes when I’m at my desk reading, I’ll turn off my monitor because it generates so much heat it can make me sweat. Here’s an estimate of how much you might save.
  3. Reduce your energy usage. Yes, it can make a difference.

This of course assumes that you just use the computer at random times during the day and don’t need to keep it running. However, if you’re calculating digits of pi or computing a two-hour window for a space shuttle launch, then well, it might be best to leave it on. My MO is to put my laptop in stand-by mode when I’m not going to be using it for a while and then turn off the power strip (or unplug it) if I’m headed to bed or out the door. I know that some people say that you shouldn’t use the power-save mode, but I use it all the time and my computer has lasted over four years. And some of those same people tried to tell me that I needed a new hard drive when my touch pad stop working (thanks guys, great advice).