Apple has redefined sleep

> I have just discovered that the "sleep" LED on MBPs/MBs
>doesn't really mean the machine's asleep any more.
>
> Details are at
><http://www.reppep.com/weblog/pepper/Computers/2006/08/11/Applehasredefinedsleep.html>.
>
> Apologies for doubting Alex!

Apple hasn't redefined sleep, they've redefined the light.

For a while now (since the iMac G5?) "sleep light on" means the
screen is dimmed but the computer is actually still on. It's
basically the "I'm-not-asleep" light. The behavior now shows up on
laptops...

--
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415-243-3565 / AIM/iChat: MW jsnell

> I have just discovered that the "sleep" LED on MBPs/MBs
> doesn't really mean the machine's asleep any more.

This was one of the aspects of my new G5 iMac that took some getting
used to -- the LED would pulse even though only the screen was asleep.

BRIAN

...
>Apple hasn't redefined sleep, they've redefined the light.
>
>For a while now (since the iMac G5?) "sleep light on" means the
>screen is dimmed but the computer is actually still on. It's
>basically the "I'm-not-asleep" light. The behavior now shows up on
>laptops...

Hmmm, so when the computer does really sleep, the light is off? And
how do I then see the difference between sleep and powered off (i.e.
the system will boot when I switch it on?).


Greetings,
Gernot
--
www.wollemond.de - Der unpolitische Filz ;-)

> Hmmm, so when the computer does really sleep, the light is off? And
> how do I then see the difference between sleep and powered off (i.e.
> the system will boot when I switch it on?).

On my systems it's pretty simple:

1. Light on, screen off = power on, but screen dimmed.
2. Light off, screen off = power off.
3. Light pulsating, screen off = sleeping.
4. Light off, screen on = regular operation.

The advantage of having the power light off during normal operation is
that it isn't blazing in your face -- and the current white power
lights are far from subtle, as I've noticed having my MacBook in my
dark bedroom at night.

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The light comes on when the display dims (if that energy-saving feature is
turned on). It pulsates when the computer goes to sleep. It's off when the
computer is off, but comes on briefly upon start-up and shut-down.


Gernot Hecht (Gernotwollemond.de)wrote:
> Hmmm, so when the computer does really sleep, the light is off? And
> how do I then see the difference between sleep and powered off (i.e.
> the system will boot when I switch it on?).

On my 15.4" MPB, the sleep light only pulses when the machine is asleep. When the screen is sleeping but the machine is awake, the sleep light is on at a constant brightness. It took me a little while to figure out what was going on. I've also noted that the ambient light sensor affects the brightness of the sleep light; if I put the machine to sleep in a dim room, and then I move it into a bright one, it can be hard to tell whether the light is pulsing.

On Aug 15, 2006, at 12:30 PM, Derek K. Miller wrote:

> 1. Light on, screen off = power on, but screen dimmed.
> 2. Light off, screen off = power off.
> 3. Light pulsating, screen off = sleeping.
> 4. Light off, screen on = regular operation.
>
> The advantage of having the power light off during normal operation is
> that it isn't blazing in your face -- and the current white power
> lights are far from subtle, as I've noticed having my MacBook in my
> dark bedroom at night.

That's what I see on my MacBook, too. (The other machines are never
allowed to sleep.)

Pulsating meaning sleep is slightly (not conclusively, clearly)
confirmed by the fact that overnight pulsating does not allow the
daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to run. Whereas the the daily did
run at the appointed time this morning, when I had unintentionally
left the machine on overnight after forgetting that I had prevented
sleep (Light on, screen off was what I found this morning).

   --John

On Aug 15, 2006, at 12:30 PM, Derek K. Miller wrote:

> 1. Light on, screen off = power on, but screen dimmed.
> 2. Light off, screen off = power off.
> 3. Light pulsating, screen off = sleeping.
> 4. Light off, screen on = regular operation.
>
> The advantage of having the power light off during normal operation is
> that it isn't blazing in your face -- and the current white power
> lights are far from subtle, as I've noticed having my MacBook in my
> dark bedroom at night.

That's what I see on my MacBook, too. (The other machines are never
allowed to sleep.)

Added August 22: Except that I have found a fifth case: Under
Windows via Bootcamp, screen dark and light dark, Windows has blanked
the screen but not yet put the machine to sleep (when it does that,
the light starts pulsating).

   --John