Putting A Mac To Sleep, to sleep or not to sleep? Options

[E rouge]

I have heard, that its not good to turn of a computer. this is what I was told with PC's . I dont know if the same applies to macs. Do any pros here leave their macs on 24/7? Do you put them to sleep when not in use? I had a conflict with a USB card, I cant put my mac to sleep because the PCi USB card doesnt allow sleep. I have a motu 828 , and not a PCI card, so I dont know if others can put their macs to sleep? Any feedback on this?

[Presto]

Electronic circuits like electricity. Apparently, they last longer if left in sleep mode than if they are simply switched off. For example a television that is not being used, should be switched on for a while once every two months.

I switch everything completely off, because if not, lots of little sleepers cost money.

Don't see how your PCI/usb card won't allow sleep, but I would just switch off anyway.

I've had Macs since 1984, have never left them on when not using them, and they've still worked well at the end of the average of 5 years I've used them.

[holli]

motu pci doesn't allow sleep -not sure why. Digi 001 does but powers off during sleep resulting in an alarming and unexpected thump. Not good at 3am Ouch

[lepetitmartien]

the "don't turn your electronic appliances off" is bulls…

On the other side, put to sleep is a cause of troubles on some systems, in energy saving NEVER allow the system to sleep (drive and screens are ok)

But the best is to shutdown when you don't use it more than one hour, it keeps the planet cooler and the glaciers frozen

You can also run on spare hours things like the SETI at least you burn the planet for something