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ecobutton Provides An Energy Saving Alternative To Shutting Down Your PC

Started by dponce80 · 10 months ago

By Andrew Liszewski
Even though we’ve all heard the reasons why we should shut down or hibernate our PCs when they’re not being used, waiting for them to restart or wake-up afterwards can occasionally be an inconvenience. So the ecobutton is being touted as an alternative ... Continue reading »

12 comments

  • reply

    1 year ago

    This is required because... shutting down and starting up the computer takes up more energy?
    reply
  • Grunwalski

    1 year ago

    I guess its something Windows assume that most PCs have, but in fact i've never seen on a single machine. The "Standby" Button. I can only assume that it will use the already on-board "Hibernation Mode"
    reply
  • Andrew Liszewski

    1 year ago

    Anytime I've put my system into Standby mode, it dumps the contents of the system RAM into a temporary file on the hard drive, and then dumps it back into RAM when the system wakes up. It's much faster than closing all the running apps, shutting down the machine, powering it up later and reopening all the programs again, but in my experience going into Standby has never been an 'instant' process.
    reply
  • Darren

    1 year ago

    .. it could be USB flash memory that redirects the contents of the Hiberfile to itself. Pressing the ecobutton would trigger software (like media keys on a multimedia keyboard) that triggers Hibernation and then tells Windows to write the Hibernation data to X: (drive where the ecobutton flash memory is). At that point, the system shuts down quicker, and restarts almost as fast.
    reply
  • siliconchef

    1 year ago

    It's just a virtual power button attached via USB. Their software sends the OS a signal to go to suspend. If you have any "enhanced" keyboards from Microsoft or Logitech (with dozens of extra buttons) you might have a standby or suspend button (look for a key with a crescent moon on it).
    reply
  • Felix

    1 year ago

    I like the idea of adding another power-draining device to my PC to make it save energy. Great job! Most modern computers have stand-by keys on their keyboards that can be configured to put the computer into hibernation anyway. But maybe I'm just missing the whole genius idea.
    reply
  • Christopher

    1 year ago

    WOW! Cool, I can save the planet by buying crap! Neat, now I don't feel bad about my H2!
    reply
  • Jeff

    1 year ago

    I have an Ecobuton and just to clarify, what the button does it re-introduces the 2 modes microsoft running gear disables when you plug a keyboard in for the first time. What Ecobutton button does is quickly and easily brings these back and will always use the most efficent mode available and puts the user in control of when they want the PC to save ££$$. It also shows the user how much they have saved both in money and CO2. See the website www.eco-button.com , don't under estimate it. We are all lazy, and this gadget makes it easy!! and its made from re-cycled plastic. My business has saved loads and has made my staff more aware and think green. Also it large offices it can save on the air conditioning bill as well.
    reply
  • Ric

    1 year ago

    I have been testing a Eco Button we got for free, like Jeff says it is a very convenient way to put your PC in to standby for when you walk away from it. However I almost fell off my chair when I found out this cheap piece of plastic with a geen LED will set you back £15, definately not worth that!!!! Even with the development of the software that tells you how much your saving, at the most it should only cost £5 max. Someone is making a lot of money of the whole greening thing.
    reply
  • snoopy

    3 months ago

    The eco-button software (from www.eco-button.com) can be used without the button.

    The button simply types 'ecobutton' into Start | Run and executes

    To do that without the button create a batch file with Notepad that contains:

    @ECHO OFF
    cmd /c ecobutton
    cls
    EXIT

    and save it as *****.bat where **** is whatever you want. Then create a desktop shortcut for this file.

    Despite the claims using the button does not appear to use less power than the normal S3 Standby mode. As far as I can see the only thing the software does is record how long the computer is suspended and calculate how much electricity has been saved based on the information entered during setup.

    So really the only thing the button has going for it is the visual reminder. Not sure that is worth what they are charging.
    reply
  • bpled

    2 months ago

    Use http://www.bpled.com instead of Google (Yahoo, Altavista whatever) and you'll save some precious energy. After all, it's up to us to care for the environment, right?

    Do some more for the environment, Make bpled your homepage at your Work and Home

    Remeber: You can make difference.


    Thank you.
    reply
  • Wuffy

    1 week ago

    Hmmm. I wonder how many greenhouse gasses are produced during the manufacture and distribution of this energy-pulling, functionality-duplicating piece of plastic junk?
    reply
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