any reason not to leave mbp on?

I just got to college and i like to leave aim on with an away when im not around. So i tried doing that with ichat but found that when the computer goes to sleep it disconnects ichat. Is there any disadvantage to just leaving my computer on plugged in for long periods of time when im not using it?

 

Well, when your MBP is sleeping, the internet connections gets disconnected. There's nothing wrong with leaving your computer plugged in for long periods of time, although some recommend to remove the battery while using the AC Adapter if you're going to use this method for a week or longer. But, I leave it plugged in with the battery intact and having had any problems so far.

 

Leaving the computer on as in leaving it connected to power? That's fine. Just use the battery every now and then. If you don't want the computer to go to Sleep mode after a certain amount of time, do this:

System Preferences > Energy Saver

Press "Show Details" and drag the first slider ("Put the computer to sleep when it is inactive for") to "Never".

That way the computer will never go to Sleep as long as you don't close the lid or manually tell it to Sleep.

 

is there any program that will leave the macbook on even if the lid is closed. i tried downloading caffeine but that to put the macbook to sleep when i closed the lid.

 

Try InsomniaX, it should work.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30315

Although I have heard that its a bit...risky to leave the MacBook on with the lid closed, as the vents are blocked...but these are just things I hear, I have no personal thoughts on it.

 

I leave my MBP on with the lid closed and seems to be okay. There is little or no heat emitting from the laptop when it is in sleep, so ventilation isn't a big deal unless it is not in sleep mode.

I use Insomnia X and when it is not in sleep mode, but I want to be left on, I do leave the lid open to help the ventilation.

 

No, not when the MacBook/MacBook Pro is sleeping, I meant if you use InsomniaX to keep the MacBook running while the lid is closed, it may be dangerous because the vents are blocked.

Closing the lid while the MacBook/Pro is sleeping is totally fine. Its if you use InsomniaX to keep the MacBook running with the lid closed is what I'm noting.

 

I leave my on permanently for the past 3 weeks of owning my mac, under vista, I disable the lid close option to put it into sleep/hibernate, so when i close the lid only the screen closes, and nothing more.

Regarding blocking the vent when the lid is clsed, I didn't know that, but so far nothing has ever happened, apart from waking up in the cold morning to see very low GPU temp reading