Why we need screen saver?

[Leythos]

I want to know why we need screen saver? Is it used to protect
the monitor when computer is in idle state?

Please advise. Thanks!!

You don't you can select "Blank" screen. The screen saver is normally
used to prevent screen-burn, which was very common in the old days, and
can still be seen on screens when using high-contrast settings with
objects in fixed positions. Today, some monitors and LCD screens will
use considerably less power when the screen saver kicks in (if it's
blank).

The screen saver is also the only way you can auto-lock your system if
you forget to before you walk always from it.

 

[Matt]

I want to know why we need screen saver? Is it used to protect
the monitor when computer is in idle state?

Please advise. Thanks!!

 

[Mike Hall]

Modern monitors do not require the use of a screen saver to prevent
burn-in.. some in offices use them to temporarily hide the screen, other
than that, they are used to personalize..

 

[Joel Rubin]

I want to know why we need screen saver? Is it used to protect
the monitor when computer is in idle state?

Please advise. Thanks!!

In the old days of green screens, you needed them to prevent the
screem image from burning in.

You probably don't need it for this purpose any more; many people use
them for aesthetics / games / whatever.

You can see burned-in green screen monitors with ancient Lotus 1-2-3
spreadsheets forever on their screen in the basements of some charity
stores, you can also see monitors with burn in problems at some bank
ATM's.

I understand that some of the new flat screen TV's can get screen burn
in from that logo that some program content providers put at the lower
right of the screen.

 

[Richard Urban]

You don't.

But, some of them are relaxing. Some are amusing. And, they allow you to
feel that you DO have some control over a machine when you choose to use one
(-:

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Mike Hall]

Can't remember now, but was it 'Johnny Castaway'?.. haven't seen it around
in a while..

 

[R. McCarty]

Screen Savers came about to prevent Phosphor burn. CRT
monitors have 3 electron guns that fire to illuminate either a
Red, Green or Blue "Spot" on the monitor. If a static image
is left running for a long period of time, it can "Burn" the image
into the phosphors. Essentially, you can turn off the computer
and still see a faint image on the tube.
That's why most Screen Savers (even XP's default) have a
moving image and not a static one.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I want to know why we need screen saver? Is it used to protect
the monitor when computer is in idle state?

That used to be the idea (against CRT 'burn in') - for which a blank
screen one, or powering the monitor off, is really the best. They are
now used to look pretty when the machine is not in use (though why
anyone should bother to look is not clear) and as something that can be
turned on hastily to conceal what you were doing if prying eyes come by

 

[John Doue]

Matt wrote:




That used to be the idea (against CRT 'burn in') - for which a blank
screen one, or powering the monitor off, is really the best. They are
now used to look pretty when the machine is not in use (though why
anyone should bother to look is not clear) and as something that can be
turned on hastily to conceal what you were doing if prying eyes come by

One down side of using screen savers is that most of them generate an
activity which prevents machines from going to suspend or hibernation
mode. For office machines, obviously, this is probably not an issue but
for private users and laptops, it is.

 

[Alexander Grigoriev]

I've seen a lot of not-so-old Hitachi CRT monitors with "Power Savings Mode"
message box burned to the screen. The damn thing would not turn itself off
when the computer is shut down or went to display off mode, but would
display the stupid message forever.

 

[Rob Stow]

I've seen a lot of not-so-old Hitachi CRT monitors with "Power Savings Mode"
message box burned to the screen. The damn thing would not turn itself off
when the computer is shut down or went to display off mode, but would
display the stupid message forever.

And I've still got, as a backup, a 1-year 17" ViewSonic CRT
monitor with a shutdown error message permanently burned
onto it. I initiated a shut down and then left for a
long weekend. Four days later I come back to a message
about an application that refused to shut down ... and
the message is still there today - along with the task bar,
desktop icons, etc. I had a screen saver set up but for
some reason it would not kick in - W2K was probably too far
into the shut down process.

 

[Guest]

is it a good thing then when after screen saver shuts down, you get a blank
screen, thus puting the pc in idle or lower state? Is there any giude lines
for how long one should run a screen saver, if at all?

 

[Richard Urban]

Run a screen saver if you want something amusing. Otherwise, just turn off
the monitor after 10-15 minutes.

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard