AUG 07

I can't see this as being of much use.
If I know my computer isn't going to be in use when I go off for lunch, then I put it to sleep as I leave for lunch. If I forget, then it goes to sleep automatically after 5-10 mins of inactivity.
It's far easier to just change existing settings, than downloading, and constantly running a new program.

Doesn't XP and Vista already have this function? It seems like the people who have would download this have already adjusted their settings. Cool idea though!

What's the difference between using this software and using the Stand By and Sleep options that already come on the computer? Is it the emissions tracker?

This capability has come for free with Apple OS's. If Vista and XP already have this function, then this really IS a waste of time!

That is the most clueless piece I've seen in long awhile.

Lessee, in the same article, your PC can generate as much CO2 as the family
car, and cost up to $36.50 a year in doing so.

Utter nonsense.

It can also use 100 watts, or 10 percent of your elecrical consumption. That
must mean your total is 1000 watts. But a small (3 ton) central air
conditioner uses 6000 watts, your oven uses about 4500, hairdryers use about
1000 to 1200.

The cnet tech editor must be seriously math challenged.

Hi everybody! Have a little question: how much time of predicred PC inactivity is enough to send it into the sleep mode?

That's a tough question, and it partially depends on your computer, and what work you're doing when you sleep it.
And there's also the issue that 'sleep' can mean different things on different computers.

Standby takes only a few seconds to sleep/wake, and only uses 1-6 watts (compaired with 100-300 watts).
So I'd say even if you're just going of for a minute to get a cup of tea or something (because coffee sucks) then it's worth putting your computer in to this mode (there may a key on your keyboard to do this quickly [mine has a moon with a face on it].
As for auto standby, I'd set it for 5-10 minutes (set it low, then if you find it keeps going in to sleep when you're reading something on the screen, but not actually pressing anything, increase the time), and also set the screen saver for 30second before it goes in to standby (so you see the screen saver, and have time to stop it going in to standby).

Also, make sure there's a power-light visible, so you don't come back from lunch, and see the screen is black (because of standby), and leave it and go home/to bed because you think it's turned off.

As for Hibernate, this saves everything running to the hard drive, and turns off, so when turn it on again, rather than having to boot up, it just load the saved stuff directly from memory.
It takes 0.5-3 minutes to sleep/wake, and uses 0-1 watts (as it's basically turned off).
Personally, I don't see the point of manually putting your computer in to hibernate, it's better to turn it off, but I would set the settings to go in to hibernate after 2-3 hours in standby, so if you do forget to turn the computer off, it turns itself off, but doesn't lose your data.

As for whether it's better to turn your computer off, or put it in to standby sleep, standby uses less energy, (if the power to turn off, and to boot is take in to account) than turning off, but not turning off may cause system problems, and cause the computer to run slow (and use more energy).

Great! Where can I download the sourcecode?

So looks like everyone is pretty much on the bandwagon of this program is worthless, however wouldn't this be great for organizations with lots and lots of computers, many of which being different models/brands? I believe that at the college I go to a tool of this sort may be helpful as we have thousands of computers many of which i believe are running all the time?

The windows controls work just as well for lots of computers of different models and brands, they are standardised, can be set via central policies across all machines on a network domain, and they work as effectively as the drivers allow. This software can only access the operating system supplied power saving controls so it can't do anything the built in stuff can do, except provide a different interface to it, or maybe automating it. I believe this software only runs on windows, so you still can't integrate power saving settings across a network with macs, linux, or other machines. I can't see any way this software is useful.

The windows controls work just as well for lots of computers of different models and brands, they are standardised, can be set via central policies across all machines on a network domain, and they work as effectively as the drivers allow. This software can only access the operating system supplied power saving controls so it can't do anything the built in stuff can do, except provide a different interface to it, or maybe automating it. I believe this software only runs on windows, so you still can't integrate power saving settings across a network with macs, linux, or other machines. I can't see any way this software is useful.