Buzz
Today, the Sleep (or Hibernate) mode is increasingly favored by many to power off their computers instead of the traditional Shut Down option.
1. Don't shut down your computer daily, opt for Sleep or Hibernate instead
Nowadays, the Sleep (or Hibernate) mode is gaining popularity as a preferred method to power off computers instead of the traditional Shut Down option.
Why is that? Firstly, Shut Down takes a considerable amount of time to complete (fully power off the machine). When Shut Down is selected, users have to wait a significant amount of time for the machine to boot up before being able to use it. Systems using HDDs or low configurations may be familiar with this scenario.
Based on these reasons, Sleep (or Hibernate) is the alternative choice to Shut Down favored by many nowadays. New computers (including laptops, tablets, or desktop computers) running Windows, Android, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, etc., are designed to optimize Sleep or Hibernate commands, so you don't have to worry about using them instead of Shut Down.
Why Sleep and Hibernate are the Top Choice?
Using the computer at different times throughout the day makes Shut Down very inconvenient. Firstly, you have to save all your current work before shutting down. After the computer restarts, you have to manually reopen files or programs to continue your work (if they were left unfinished).
On the other hand, Sleep (or Hibernate) preserves all your current programs and tasks. After usage, simply close the laptop lid (or manually initiate Sleep, Hibernate on desktop). This means you don't have to worry about closing applications or saving unfinished documents anymore.
When you want to resume your work, just press the power button and wait for the computer to 'wake up,' restoring everything to the state it was in before shutdown. While it only takes a few seconds to 'wake up' with Sleep, it may take a few seconds to minutes with Hibernate. After the computer 'wakes up,' you can continue your work without having to reopen everything like with Shut Down.
How do Sleep and Hibernate work?
As the names suggest, Sleep puts the computer into a 'sleep' state, where it remains operational but consumes minimal power. All your tasks are stored in RAM, so the computer still requires a small amount of power to keep the RAM functioning. When you press the power button, the computer boots up almost instantly, allowing you to continue your work.
Hibernate, on the other hand, stores your tasks onto the hard drive before completely shutting down the machine, unlike Sleep. Therefore, you can use Hibernate as a full substitute for Shut Down because the computer won't consume any electricity if you opt for this choice. When you press the power button, the data on the hard drive will be transferred to RAM, and you can continue your work when the screen lights up.
Although the recovery time is longer than Sleep, in most cases, it's significantly faster than Shut Down. The startup time when selecting Hibernate also depends on the speed of the hard drive. If using an SSD, that period is very quick, typically within 10-20 seconds.
How to Activate Sleep or Hibernate
Many modern Windows machines are preset to automatically enter Sleep after a period of inactivity and then transition to Hibernate shortly afterward. Most types of laptops will also automatically Sleep when closed and wake up when the lid is opened.
You can still customize the duration after which the machine will enter Sleep after a period of inactivity by going to Control Panel -> Power Options -> Change When the Computer Sleeps to adjust your preferred settings. You can also set the machine to Sleep (or Hibernate) when pressing the power button by going to Control Panel -> Power Options -> Choose What The Power Button Does to set it according to your preference. However, if you prefer using Hibernate, you'll need to activate this feature beforehand.
How to Activate Hibernate on Windows 8/Windows 10:
- Step 1: + On Windows 8: Press Ctrl+I -> Control Panel -> Power Options + On Windows 10: Press Ctrl+I -> System -> Power & Sleep -> Additional power settings + Additional method: Press Ctrl+R -> enter powercfg.cpl - Step 2: Choose Choose what the power buttons down -> Change settings that are currently unavailable - Step 3: Check Hibernate in the Shutdown settings section - Step 4: Select Save changes
Don't Worry About Power Consumption
Perhaps the only drawback of using Sleep is that the computer will consume a certain amount of electricity during idle periods. However, this power consumption is extremely low, and you don't need to worry much about your monthly electricity bill.
Similarly, if you're using a laptop on battery power, Sleep will also consume a certain amount of battery. However, since it's designed to automatically enter Sleep mode after a few hours, you don't need to worry about it draining the battery completely. Compared to desktops, Sleep on laptops offers a lot of convenience.
However, if you're still concerned about the energy consumption of Sleep, then Hibernate will be an appropriate alternative for you.
Mistakes Are Not a Problem
Some individuals believe in completely restarting Windows to ensure that features function correctly, but such cases are rare. Of course, you still need to restart Windows when necessary (installing an update, driver, or software). Aside from these cases, it's not essential to Shut Down the computer daily. If your computer needs to restart frequently, you may need to investigate as it could indicate underlying issues.
Some older models may not work well with Sleep or Hibernate due to hardware issues. In such cases, Shut Down may be more suitable for you.
Additionally, Linux systems may not perform well with Sleep or Hibernate, which is why the Hibernate option is disabled by default on Ubuntu. However, if your system is well-supported by the manufacturer for Linux, you can still use Sleep or Hibernate with confidence.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be affirmed that Shut Down should only be used in some unavoidable circumstances or for older machines, while Sleep or Hibernate is the optimal, most convenient choice that we advise readers to use for their computers.
Source: vnreview
