Opinion Poll: Monitor Use

This is about monitor lifespan, NOT electricity usage.

Is it better to switch off the monitor, or leave it on?
Is it better to switch off for a few hours or go into screensaver mode?
How can you help extend the life of your monitor?
Does this differ for LCD vs Plasma Monitors?

 

Hi chas...

Since this is just a Poll...

I always "Lock" my PC or Workstation then turn off the Monitor(s) (LCD or CRT) if I'm going to be away for more than an hour. This is just the practice I got into over the years...

 

since its only an opinion

i would always go with lcd over plasma as plasma has a much shorter lifespan than lcs--especially if youre a gamer. that being said i personally dont use screensavers, i go into powersave mode which turns it off anyways. this is also just out of habit because i usually have some sort of program running that works faster without a screensaver.

 

I am using a laptop so if I don't touch anything for about 5 minutes the screen just blacks out . Although this is a power saving thing I think.

 

Keep those cards and letters coming!

 

On the desktops I always turn of the monitor (or it's set to power saving mode) if I'm not using it for any more than 10-15mins. It's not like a PC how big a problem is it pushing a button or moving the mouse

With the Laptop though I have to admit the display is usually on (the battery's shot so powered from mains) as I tend to use this for email/forums etc

 

Turning off the monitor when i'm away from the pc.
Its been a habit for me.

Nothings wrong with my LCD after 3 years of usage

 

I physically switch off my LCD monitor with an on/off bell switch that I have installed in its power cord. The on/off switch on the monitor may not result in the monitor going off totally as some LCD monitors have the power pack outside the monitor.

And I always switch off the complete system from mains if its not going to be used for more than 20-30 minutes.

Do the same. Switch off everything from mains & don't rely on that power switch on the appliance. It may or may not switch off the appliance completely. Even in so called sleep mode, appliances do draw some current.[In mA. But multiply that mA with no.of hours on standby/sleep in a day with no.of appliances in your house with 365 & you are leaking massive amount of electricity down the drain. Multiply that figure with 1000s of households & you suddenly have got a huge figure, which does not look benign any more]

Do your bit. Help save the Earth. Please..........

 

Good Point!

 

I had a 17" CTX monitor I bought in 1995. Rarely ever turned it off. It is still working today in someone else's house.

Now, when I leave the house to go to work I turn everything off just to see if there is a difference in my electric bill.

 

I don't want to come across as environmentally irresponsible but political correctness isn't necessarily my mantra either. Most monitors sold during the last 10 years are Energy Star Compliant so we aren't saving the forest by turning them off when not in use. Compare that to your wife's hairdryer and put a clothesline in the backyard so she doesn't need an iron or the clothes dryer - now you've got some energy savings. You can also disconnect those ventilators and heaters in the bathrooms if she'll allow it.

As an aside, I run everything 24/7 albeit with responsible power saving and sleeping habits.

 

Like you, Rockster, my computer is always on, and I turn the monitor off when I'm gone or away from the computer for a spell.

 

I don't have either of these gadgets.

 

You mean the wife, or the hair drier?

 

I wish wife was a gadget - it would at least have a switch

 

As in on/off, or possibly a mute?

 

LOLX! i do want to get one of that controller to.

 

Both, I wish.

 

See rsinfo, he tells me his works great!