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Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!njin!princeton!phoenix!rdnelson
From: rdnelson@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Roger D Nelson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.misc
Subject: Leaving Computer On
Keywords: Amiga, Continuous, Turned on, Running
Message-ID: <7684@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 11 Apr 89 12:45:23 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga
Organization: Princeton University, NJ
Lines: 22

Standard apology for asking what may be an old question.

What is the net's experience-based wisdom on the effect of leaving a
micro-computer turned on?  I have an Amiga 1000 with an external
floppy, a printer and modem, all powered through a spike suppressor
outlet gang.  How is the longevity of the computer affected when there
is no activity -- merely turned on -- and when there is occasional
activity prompted by timer activated invocation of programs, e.g., a
one hour period every 12 hours?  How about the peripherals?  
There are chips and diodes that are on, warm and active -- do they get 
"used up" like an incandescent bulb?  And does the transition shock of 
being turned on/off cause more damage than continuous running?
I can imagine a function relating MTBF to the mean length of on-time or the
frequency of cold-boots, or some similar variable.
 
While I have your attention, may I expand the question to include
systems that have a hard drive?  And finally, is there a difference in
regard to the question of continuous running for the various types of
computer?  At work I use IBM PCs and ATs, and wonder about leaving
them running also.

Roger Nelson  rdnelson@phoenix.princeton.edu