4 ms·

Hey, stupid definition-wisecracking – I’m in! Mobile devices most definitely are “instant on”. Try it. Press the power button, the device is immediately off, p

by ugh 16y ago

Hey, stupid definition-wisecracking – I’m in! Mobile devices most definitely are “instant on”. Try it. Press the power button, the device is immediately off, press it again, the device is immediately on. Nearly everyone would call that “instant-on”. That the devices don’t really ever power down completely is merely an implementation detail, not really relevant for the scope of this discussion. (At least no warranting a statement like “most definitely not instant on”.)

ghshephard 16y ago
Agreed with OP. What makes the Mac Book Air so impressive, is that it's both. An aggressive sleep feature means that, unlike my MacBook Pro, which had an identical work pattern - I have _yet_ to have my MBA run out of batter. The MBP would routinely run out every three-four days. At the same time, when it _does_ run out of battery - it powers up in 15 seconds. Not _quite_ instant on, but it makes a measurable difference in how you feel about powering it up to use. Ironically - you never do because it's always on. :-) g.
Semiapies 16y ago
Then every desktop or notebook that goes into sleep mode or even just a blank screen saver is "instant on", too. So it means nothing.
- ugh 16y ago
  I would argue that they are, yes. At least to some extent. (I use my laptop that way. My mom doesn’t.) What has changed is the UI. People are now often encouraged to send their devices to sleep, that’s not really the case with even current laptops. Truly powering down is an equal citizen on desktop operating system instead of some weird function only nerds would use (like it is on smartphones).
  - Semiapies 16y ago
    You mean the "weird function" that people use to conserve their batteries or that they see happen when their Droid updates?
    - ugh 16y ago
      I’m not familiar with Android phones. I have never seen or heard of anyone intentionally rebooting or shutting down his or her iPhone or iPod touch, though.

by ugh 16y ago

ghshephard 16y ago

Agreed with OP. What makes the Mac Book Air so impressive, is that it's both. An aggressive sleep feature means that, unlike my MacBook Pro, which had an identical work pattern - I have _yet_ to have my MBA run out of batter. The MBP would routinely run out every three-four days. At the same time, when it _does_ run out of battery - it powers up in 15 seconds. Not _quite_ instant on, but it makes a measurable difference in how you feel about powering it up to use. Ironically - you never do because it's always on. :-) g.

Semiapies 16y ago

Then every desktop or notebook that goes into sleep mode or even just a blank screen saver is "instant on", too. So it means nothing.

ugh 16y ago
I would argue that they are, yes. At least to some extent. (I use my laptop that way. My mom doesn’t.) What has changed is the UI. People are now often encouraged to send their devices to sleep, that’s not really the case with even current laptops. Truly powering down is an equal citizen on desktop operating system instead of some weird function only nerds would use (like it is on smartphones).
- Semiapies 16y ago
  You mean the "weird function" that people use to conserve their batteries or that they see happen when their Droid updates?
  - ugh 16y ago
    I’m not familiar with Android phones. I have never seen or heard of anyone intentionally rebooting or shutting down his or her iPhone or iPod touch, though.