Since the initial release of System Control, we’ve gotten quite a few requests for either a “Sleep” or a “Hibernate” button as opposed to StandBy, which is supposed to be similar to “Sleep” (But only if you use Windows XP, evidently).  So, here’s what I’ve learned about the mess that is Windows Vista power options:

- Most systems will start with Hybrid Sleep, which saves your information like Hibernate, but goes into low power mode for 3 hours before shutting off.

- If disabled, you then have separate Sleep and Hibernate options, but the only real difference here is power, they essentially do very similar things.

- The command I use for StandBy is different depending on the power setting of the computer.  And you have to go into the advanced power options to even check out what it will do when you hit it.

Suffice it to say, I’m not exactly sure how to proceed from here.  I’ve requests from both sides, but since Hybrid Sleep fulfills both requests, people should probably be using that instead of generic Sleep anyways.  If you have a laptop and are concerned with power, just disable Hybrid Sleep and the StandBy button automatically does Hibernate instead.  I know it’s a little confusing, but that’s the weird way it seems to work.

I like the idea of Hybrid Sleep, but Microsoft probably should have been more forthcoming with the details of the power options and made them more customizable for people.  This being the case, I really don’t see the absolute need right now to add in a duplicate button, because all a user has to do is look at their advanced power settings to tell the button what it should do.

I will still be adding in an option to turn the in-gadget confirm on or off, but the power button issue might take a bit longer to have everything set up.  I was hoping to have a more definitive solution in place today, but it looks like there kind of already is.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 10:02 am
and is filed under Gadgets, System Control.



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