[Merkava_4]

I've got mine set at 5 minutes, but it gets a little annoying when watching a video. How long can I go without destroying the screen?

[ibook_steve]

First of all, this has nothing to do with Apple portable hardware, so I've moved it.

Second, a "screen saver" does nothing of the sort with modern LCDs. The only truly useful aspect of screen savers these days is to lock your screen, not prevent burn-in, which doesn't exist with LCDs. Set the screen saver to an hour or more or never. Your screen is not going to get "destroyed".

Steve

[MacNNUK]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

First of all, this has nothing to do with Apple portable hardware, so I've moved it.

Second, a "screen saver" does nothing of the sort with modern LCDs. The only truly useful aspect of screen savers these days is to lock your screen, not prevent burn-in, which doesn't exist with LCDs. Set the screen saver to an hour or more or never. Your screen is not going to get "destroyed".

Steve

Does a dark SS save the backlight, extending life ?

Is it actually dimming the backlight, or just presenting a dark image in front of it ?

Similarly when the screen dims pre display sleep ?

I use Bigtime SS, which dims the screen considerably and shows large digital click, pre display sleep.

Update: I've just measured the iMac power consumption, and the 52w pre screensave is exactly the same 52w after screen saver.

[Spheric Harlot]

If you want to extend the life of your screen, have it turn off (energy saver settings).

A dark screen saver will just keep the the backlight running at full power, not extending its life in the slightest.

(In fact, IIRC, a dark image on an LCD screen means that all the pixel transistors are switched on, so a dark screen saver actually consumes slightly *more* energy than a bright image.)

[MacNNUK]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

If you want to extend the life of your screen, have it turn off (energy saver settings).

A dark screen saver will just keep the the backlight running at full power, not extending its life in the slightest.

(In fact, IIRC, a dark image on an LCD screen means that all the pixel transistors are switched on, so a dark screen saver actually consumes slightly *more* energy than a bright image.)

Pretty much what I've just confirmed, thanks

I only use SS manually when I am downloading or other task and don't want to "sleep" yet.

I've just reset my SS to come on automatically only a minute pre sleep.

Any knowledge on the pre sleep screen dimming ?

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

Second, a "screen saver" does nothing of the sort with modern LCDs. The only truly useful aspect of screen savers these days is to lock your screen, not prevent burn-in, which doesn't exist with LCDs. Set the screen saver to an hour or more or never. Your screen is not going to get "destroyed".

Excellent answer!! Thank you sir.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

Second, a "screen saver" does nothing of the sort with modern LCDs. The only truly useful aspect of screen savers these days is to lock your screen, not prevent burn-in, which doesn't exist with LCDs.

Actually burn in exist well and truly on LCDs. Fortunately it is temporary, but annoying nonetheless. I had a period where I would come home from work, find that EyeTV had opened it's full screen menu which was then readable for hours as a ghost image after.

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Actually burn in exist well and truly on LCDs. Fortunately it is temporary, but annoying nonetheless. I had a period where I would come home from work, find that EyeTV had opened it's full screen menu which was then readable for hours as a ghost image after.

Yes, this type of "burn-in" did occur on older panels (I have an old Apple Cinema Display that does it), but I haven't seen it on any panels from the past 3 or 4 years.

Steve

[voodoo]

I have my screensaver set to stun. Set at 15 minutes, since I noticed a menu-bar burn in the other day.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

Yes, this type of "burn-in" did occur on older panels (I have an old Apple Cinema Display that does it), but I haven't seen it on any panels from the past 3 or 4 years.

Steve

My iMac is two years old. And it is a much higher quality display than the new glossy iMacs which have horrible viewing angle. Seriously, I can't stand them, window shadows create a ****ing aura from anything else than dead straight on.