"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:g4j6oc$58p$1@aioe.org...
> Jo-Anne wrote:
>> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:g4j23l$f87$1@aioe.org...
>>> Jo-Anne wrote:
>>>> I'm about to buy a Dell notebook computer with the downgrade to Windows
>>>> XP Pro. One option (you can take it or leave it) is Energy Star
>>>> Enabled. According to Dell, it uses "Energy Star power management
>>>> features, which allow the computer to enter a very low power mode when
>>>> not in use for a specified period of time."
>>>>
>>>> Can this option cause any problems with the computer? Given that Dell
>>>> isn't making it standard, I worry about such things as the screen saver
>>>> keeping the screen blank even when you want it back.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you!
>>>>
>>>> Jo-Anne
>>> http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?...crit_computers
>>>
>>> Standby (Off Mode): <= 1.0 W
>>>
>>> Sleep Mode: <= 1.7 W
>>>
>>> Idle State*:
>>>
>>> * Category A: <= 14.0 W
>>> * Category B: <= 22.0 W
>>>
>>> What is the model number of the Dell ?
>>>
>>> The computer should still have a Power Management control panel,
>>> where you can change the current scheme.
>>>
>>> Paul
>>>
>> Thank you, Paul! It's the Precision M4300 Workstation. I read the info at
>> the link, but of course it doesn't deal with people's experience using
>> Energy Star computers. I have a vague memory of a few years ago when,
>> once the screen went to sleep, you couldn't get it back without
>> rebooting; and I think it had to do with energy saving. You could turn
>> off the sleep mode so it would never get used, but you wouldn't know it
>> was an issue until the problem occurred.
>>
>> Jo-Anne
>
> When I look at the M4300 page, there are "Base Package", "Productivity
> Package",
> and "Docking Bundle". Only "Docking Bundle" has an Energy Star tick box,
> but
> the price differential is $0. In other words, it appears the platform is
> Energy Star, without adding anything.
>
> One review site (with not a lot of reviews), mentioned battery life might
> not
> be very long. Which doesn't really sound like "Energy Star" at work, at
> least
> while running. They make it sound like this is more of a desktop
> replacement,
> rather than a thin and light portable.
>
> In Sleep Mode, the RAM needs to be refreshed. So the RAM needs power, and
> that
> could be what the 1.7W allocation above is for. And "Off Mode" shouldn't
> really need to power anything, if it is really "Off". I suppose the "Off
> Mode"
> might refer to power wasted by the adapter, if the machine is connected
> via
> the adapter, to the wall. A switching adapter will draw power, to finish
> charging the battery. Then, there would be no appreciable power needs by
> the "off" laptop, but the adapter itself still wastes a small amount of
> power
> while it is sitting there idle. That would have to fit within the <1.0W
> budget, to pass Energy Star.
>
> And you're right, that disabling the backlight is a significant power
> item.
> A CCFL tube draws about 3W, and more than one may be used, depending on
> the
> screen dimensions. When on battery, they can operate the CCFL tube a
> bit dimmer, and turn it off when no user input is detected. That would
> add to battery runtime. If the machine is operating properly, it should
> always come back, when there is user input. Closing and opening the lid,
> should also restore it. The machine may have crashed, if neither of those
> are working.
>
> Paul

Thank you, Paul! Actually, the productivity package also has the Energy Star
option, and it's not ticked as recommended. I'll make my decision this
afternoon.

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne