http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381 Giveaway of the Day Forums » Topic: Why Screensavers Are A Good Thing... en-US Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:17:02 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381/page/2#post-83507 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:58:30 +0000 RosnSC 83507@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Copmom, I like the Gemini and others screensavers, but find when they are running my computer&#39;s fan runs really fast. When the screensaver stops running, the fan runs normal, again. Because of that I don&#39;t use screensavers on my computer, which is a several-years-old Compaq, running Windows XP SP3. </p> <p>Having said that, for our desktop backgrounds we like to use photos we&#39;ve taken of our horses, ourselves with the horses, and the pictures that came on the computer. (Hmm...has a lightbulb moment, here)...instead of the generic Windows XP screensaver, can use the same photos as for background (duh!...smacks forehead...lol) </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381/page/2#post-83506 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 13:35:03 +0000 copmom 83506@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Personally I think the best screen saver to use is all of the photos (jpegs, etc.) stored on your computer. We take pictures install them on our machines and forget them. Using them as an every changing screen saver recaptures the memories of what you have stored! </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381/page/2#post-83472 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:31:55 +0000 RosnSC 83472@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>promytius, advising/suggesting to people not to download/use Gemini Screensavers is like advising people not to eat (say) Hershey&#39;s Dark Chocolate. Some people have problems with them, and thus can&#39;t use/consume them. Others don&#39;t have those problems, and can enjoy them when they wish to. I, for one, don&#39;t have any problems with either one. I have been running Gemini Screensavers, off/on for a number of years, now, and have enjoyed them. Ditto for the Hershey&#39;s Dark. :) </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381/page/2#post-83465 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 02:17:34 +0000 promytius 83465@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>please see my post Oct.1, 2010 on Gemini Screensavers - maybe you won&#39;t be such a booster... </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381/page/2#post-49691 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:06:12 +0000 Local 49691@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Personally I like screensavers, good screensavers anyway.<br /> I like to turn them on to watch when I feel like chilling out and have never set one up to start when my PC is idle (As if THAT happens)<br /> BUT.<br /> I won't download them from Gaotd because all of the screensavers I have tried on here so far have been full of junk.</p> <p>The point I'm making is, screensaver = Nice.<br /> Stupid program installed to organise? time? run? waste space? = Waste of resources and space.</p> <p>Now if after activating all that was left was a .scr file and nice happy pictures I'd take every one of them.</p> <p>Does any other screensaver hater have this problem or am I alone here? </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381/page/2#post-48759 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:43:43 +0000 Frique 48759@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>While I personally do not download the screen savers, I can see that they do bring a measure of happiness to some peoples lives. Who am I to deny someone a little happiness. I am grateful for all the hard work that the team puts into this site. About once every two or three weeks I find a program that I find interesting and download it. Those are the programs that bring me happiness. While the team at GOTD cannot make everyone happy all the time, they do a pretty good job of making as many people happy as possible. Oh, and Spiritwolf, I used to use one from SETI to help crunch numbers looking for a signal from outer space. I lost it in a reformat a couple of years ago and just never reinstalled it. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47525 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:41:18 +0000 BuBBy 47525@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I'm sure almost all users who run screensavers do so for aesthetic and entertainment reasons and not to save electricity, to cool their room, to prevent possible damage to their display.</p> <p>I think the intention of screensavers ceased to be "technically useful" ever since Berkeley Systems launched "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_toasters">After Dark</a>" and the Flying Toasters on the Mac back in 1989. Since then any "technical usefulness" is surely an accident that nobody really cares about.</p> <p>In <a href="http://lowendmac.com/thomas/07/0212.html">an interview with Patrick Beard</a>, one of the architects who worked on "After Dark", Patrick says,</p> <blockquote><p>With the advent of LCD displays, screen savers are now purely eye candy. </p></blockquote> <p>It is interesting to read all of <a href="http://lowendmac.com/thomas/afterdark.html">The After Dark Interviews</a> - for some insight into the development of the first screensavers (as we now think of them).</p> <p>Oh.. and have a <a href="http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/ToasterClone-Download-54367.html">Flying Toaster Screensaver</a> ;) </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47519 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:47:14 +0000 watcher13 47519@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I think I've been misunderstood, though I'm hardly the first to make this point. I have no problem with either using a screensaver of turning the monitor off. I'm just saying there's a certain logical elegance to using power management to make your monitor go dark if you're aware from your machine for too long. It's as good a protection from burn-in than either of the other methods. I'm not pushing it. I'm just saying that with power management or the option of hitting the power switch, screensavers have become a purely aesthetic choice. Which is fine. I've got no problem with your computer having something attractive running which makes you feel better. Actually, sounds like as useful a purpose for a computer as any. It's just that screensavers no longer serve a "technically" useful purpose. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47475 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:04:03 +0000 BuBBy 47475@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Personally, I find the posting of Screensavers don't save screens and save the planet - turn your screen off, to be repetitive and tiresome.</p> <p>When a paint program gets offered I don't see people arguing on the merits of graphic programs over using a real paint brush.</p> <p>People are asked to comment on the giveaway software. Many of the users who comment have not even downloaded or looked at the software. Many comments are along the lines of "I don't like screensavers and I never use them - and neither should you. GOTD should never give away this type of software, it should be banned." (usually rants like this are of no help to anyone and I will delete them).</p> <p>I believe everyone is entitled to make up their own mind and comments can only speak on behalf of the person posting them (ie. don't speak as "the elected representative of all the other users").</p> <p>As for screen burn in - if anything is going to cause burn in - it is the negative image of the start button on the task bar - which is usually displayed 100% of the time - I have seen this - also on a Business PC - and was only visible by turning off the LCD monitor and looking very closely in direct sunlight. The user was completely unaware of it until having it pointed out to them. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47473 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:33:18 +0000 My Alias Nothing 47473@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Okay, I apologize, and admit I may have been a bit rash, but I still need a better explanation. Did I not express the respect aspect on my first sentence? (or somewhere close to that). Now I'm not that against this whole idea to bother with a new thread, and I never post anything negative during Screensaver Giveaways, I simply skip those. Please reply. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47471 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:26:58 +0000 pbbbbear 47471@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Upon further research I have probably seen what they call “LCD Image Persistence”, according to this at least: <a href="http://compreviews.about.com/od/monitors/a/LCDBurnIn.htm" rel="nofollow">http://compreviews.about.com/od/monitors/a/LCDBurnIn.htm</a><br /> I might add that this was seen on a business PC with a regular standard LCD 17’’ flat panel screen that is on almost 24/7. So the likelihood of this occurring on a home computer is very unlikely to happen.<br /> Probably have been a bit off topic here, but thought it necessary to clear up any confusion I may have caused.<br /> This in my opinion is good reason to use a screensaver of some sorts, or at least turning off the monitor when not needed. So GOTD keep em commin', you rock! </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47459 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:23:01 +0000 notblocklox 47459@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Hi, <strong>My Alias Nothing</strong><br /> please read the topic :<br /> "Why Screensavers Are A Good Thing..."<br /> When you would like to comment to any other topic, feel free to open a new thread.<br /> Not your opinion is wrong or unwanted but the manner you expressed it.<br /> Please stay on topic and please show respect to other users and their opinion.<br /> graylox aka notblocklox </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47455 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:03:48 +0000 watcher13 47455@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>pbbbbbear,<br /> I would have thought no, too, from what I've heard, but if you've seen it, then I'm inclined to believe you. Plasma's might be prone too it, but I assume you were talking about an LCD monitor, not a plasma TV. The thing is, though, screensavers get such a bad wrap partly because there's a much simpler solution even if burn-in is the potential problem. Just using your power management and having your monitor go into standby, and therefore dark, saves power and internal mileage on both your monitor and your computer. Screensavers are from back in the days when power management was either unavailable or crude and glitchy. Sometimes it took more than a few seconds for monitors and/or machines to come back out of standby. It's pretty quick now. I saw one argument in the comments section from a very smart technician who said he used screensavers to improve his productivity because the desktop came up immediately, instead of having to wait a few seconds. Really? Those few extra seconds hurt your productivity to the point where it made a significant difference in your wallot? It wasn't coffee breaks, cigarette breaks, shooting the breeze, or whatever? Besides, I don't want to become THAT much of a workerbot. If it were me, I'd contemplate a new career.</p> <p>The point is: there may be valid personal aesthetic reasons to use a screensaver, but in 999 cases out of 1,000 (really, not even that many), there's no valid technical reason. Especially not for a home user. But, for personal enjoyment - sounds good to me. Forgive me, however, if I don't partake. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47454 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:30:48 +0000 My Alias Nothing 47454@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Huh, my post was deleted. Now I can see why there aren't any other sides to this discussion, seems to me screensaver fans rule this place. Then I won't bother, but it's still plain rude to just delete (report) my post, even though I didn't really break any of the rules. I'm disappointed in this place.</p> <p>^scubaguy: Still is your choice on this, but I do have my own opinion here don't I? Or maybe I don't... We'll see. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47439 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:46:08 +0000 scubaguy (R.I.P.) 47439@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Many are not able to easily spend time outdoors, or feel like playing a game. As for taking a nap, many of us are forced into that because of the many medications we take. Therefore, if we wish to loose ourselves in a pleasant looking screensaver for whatever reason, that is our choice.<br /> I have a screensaver that is composed of all types of Christmas photos with music to go with the photos. This screensaver helps me to take my mind off the discomfort I feel while I wait for my pain medication to take effect. There are many other screensavers that are used for the same reason.<br /> As for the fact <em>“CRTs in the 80's and early 90's were subject to burn-in but monitors improved and burn-in became a thing of the past.”</em> Yes, we are all aware of this, and if it decreases the life of my processor.....Well it is my processor and that is my choice.<br /> Screensavers can also have a positive effect.</p> <p>---edited--- </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47436 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:38:46 +0000 pbbbbear 47436@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>BritCanuck wrote:<br /> "People have stated in the various Comments sections that, with all the new flat-screen monitors now out on the market, the old problem of "burn-in" facing standard CRT monitors is now redundant."</p> <p>I’m not into screensavers either, but don’t mind seeing them on GOTD for others that like them.<br /> I’m not sure if this is “Burn-in” or not, but I have seen a flat panel screen with an outline of the terminal server bar that you see at the top, permanently etched on the screen. So perhaps flat panels are still subject to this? </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47431 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:43:46 +0000 mythicalme 47431@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I do not use screen-savers. First, the burn-in problem that created the need in the first place was remedied long ago. CRTs in the 80's and early 90's were subject to burn-in but monitors improved and burn-in became a thing of the past. </p> <p>Second, whenever you use a screen-saver, you're executing a program that uses the processor. It generates heat thereby decreasing the life of the processor. Once I had the Earthview screen-saver and found that when activated the processor use went up to almost 100% and the heat generated was 20% more than with some very heavy processor usage software.</p> <p>As MyAliasNothing suggested, the best thing to do is to simply exercise the index finger and turn off the monitor. Better yet, when you're not using your computer, turn it off. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47427 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:42:10 +0000 My Alias Nothing 47427@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Although I respect the fact that there are people who find screensavers useful, I simply have to disagree.</p> <p>First of all, for the burn-in problem, it could simply be solved with a press of a button, turn your monitor off. As for lazy, or forgetful people, they could just configure Windows to automatically turn off the monitor after an amount of time using Power Options in Control Panel (Definitely on XP, and most likely Vista, should have similar tool in older, or other OS). Or you could set the screensaver as blank, same kind of thing.</p> <p>As for it being pleasant, and all, there are other programs, casual gaming, taking a nap, spending time outdoors, plenty of alternatives.</p> <p>I, myself, uses it only to activate some features of my programs, such as virus scanning (using Avast), and other things that happen while I'm not on. Just for your info, I've come across quite a lot of screensavers as well, but they all get boring sooner or later. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-47419 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:58:42 +0000 watcher13 47419@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I'm not necessarily one who agrees with the thread, but have some news for Astrogemini fans. The German Avanquest software site is offering a Xmas special on Greeting Card Designer bundled with 3 Astrogemini 3D screensavers: Christmas Time, Winter Night, and Formula 1. All 4 for 20 Euros. The 2 Christmas screensavers got 2/3rd positives when given away here. Considering the number of screensaver haters, that's pretty impressive. As to Greeting Card Designer, their website says they got 5 stars from CNET, but that must be a seperate review I didn't search for. The download from CNET I saw had only 3 stars. I would assume, most would want to wait and hope these Astrogeminis will be GOTD giveaways again. But, I'm not qualified to plumb the minds of screensaver lovers, so....</p> <p><a href="http://web.avanquest.com/special_offers/2008_calendar/calendar.cfm?country_id=2&#38;tr1=BB_DE_BN_AD_1208" rel="nofollow">http://web.avanquest.com/special_offers/2008_calendar/calendar.cfm?country_id=2&#38;tr1=BB_DE_BN_AD_1208</a></p> <p>Click on star 15. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-27848 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:31:26 +0000 sukibabe 27848@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I found a new use for Screensavers!<br /> They take away internet withdrawal when you are sitting in the woods knowing you can't reach this site, lmao!</p> <p>Will check that one out Whabbit!</p> <p>However, looking at wireless broadband card for my laptop. Son works for Sprint so he could get me the monthly fee for half the price and turn it on and off(as I am only up there about 6 months of the year), would still have to buy the card, but he said the USB stick is cheaper by about 30 bucks now! He said I would be crawling somewhere between dial-up and dsl, but hey, I'd take it!</p> <p>Suki </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-27845 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:14:56 +0000 Whiterabbit-uk 27845@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Hi Native1, no that's not the one I mentioned, though it is quite good. I completely forgot I said I'd post the link to Earth View. Here it is:</p> <p><a href="http://www.desksoft.com/EarthView_Screenshot.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.desksoft.com/EarthView_Screenshot.htm</a></p> <p>You can set any area of the earth as a wall paper and zoom in. Much like google Earth, but not quite as close up. I think the maximum zoom is 2.5Km. Then you have a screensaver function as well. There's a lot of add ons as well which I mention in my post above.</p> <p><em><strong>Suki</strong></em>, you must try G-Force. It's a brilliant visualization program that can be used as both a screensaver and in conjunction with your media player. It's a really beautiful freeform psychedelic screensaver:</p> <p><a href="http://www.soundspectrum.com/g-force/upgrade.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.soundspectrum.com/g-force/upgrade.html</a></p> <p>Wirechanger that was given away last year also has a kaleidascope wallpaper generator which has been one of my favorite applications given away from the giveaway project. I bought it shortly after it was given away because I loved the desktop enhancements that came with it as well. You can set your wallpaper to change regularily. with the kaleidoscope and fractals generators I've had some beautiful wallpapers, you can set the program to save each one that's generated if you wish. :)</p> <p><a href="http://www.wiredplane.com/en/wirechanger/about.php?language=en" rel="nofollow">http://www.wiredplane.com/en/wirechanger/about.php?language=en</a></p> <p>I was really impressed with the developer because when I first ordered wirechanger I actually mistakenly ordered wire keys instead. When I realized what I'd done (after receiving the reg key for wire keys, I contacted the developer who then promptly sent me the wirechanger reg code and said keep the reg code for wire keys as well. Both of which I was really pleased with. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-24426 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:53:05 +0000 sukibabe 24426@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Buckleysmom</p> <p>The Metascope program takes up allot of resources on your pc, so I only use it when I'm in the mood to trip out, so to speak,lol! People who are affected with that screen seizure problem should not use this program! </p> <p>It is mesmerizing!</p> <p>delenn13, my main pc runs a low volume screen saver, so my contribution to that program is only hurt minimally. My network is set up to give me daily reports on bandwidth for all 3 computers and that one has plenty to give. You are right about the games, my reports only gauge up to 50 MB and when I play a game, it maxes it out!</p> <p>Suki </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-24420 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:06:30 +0000 delenn13 24420@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Spiritwolf, I run a program also and I won't use their screen saver or any screen savers. <a href="http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2652?replies=6">Using Your PC to Find Cures for Diseases- Folding@Home</a> But each to their own. </p> <p>My mom has bone cancer and Alzheimer's and my husband just found out his best friend of 30 years is dying of small cell lung cancer/Extensive Stage Disease. And all my grandparents died of either heart diease or cancer. </p> <p>So I won't let a screen saver use any resources as I feel guilty enough playing games, which do take away from the program. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-24419 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:56:07 +0000 Buckleysmom 24419@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Suki......Oooooh I just loooked at krazydads stuff.....cool! I also love kaleidoscopes. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-24417 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:51:38 +0000 Buckleysmom 24417@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>BritCanuck...... <em>So that's two reasons why, in my opinion, screensavers are a good thing, and a necessary thing.</em> Here, here. Or is it hear, hear? whichever....I agree.</p> <p>I've only been watching the game giveaways not the regular giveways (well, I do now that they're combined) but anyway I haven't seen all the free screensavers you huys are talking about. Does anyone know of any that have animals in them? I would love to see a good safari animal screensaver as I love zebras, giraffes and elephants. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-24402 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:30:50 +0000 Spiritwolf 24402@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>One way to use your computer to help accomplish something positive for the rest of the world, while also having some unusual and fascinating screensavers to run, is to get involved in the GRID Distributed computing projects. I've run GRID projects and their screensavers on my pcs for years now, ever since back when United Devices was young and doing its first cancer research project.</p> <p>Now there are a variety of organizations doing Distributed Computing projects and quite a number of different projects to choose from.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gridrepublic.org/index.php?param=about" rel="nofollow">http://www.gridrepublic.org/index.php?param=about</a><br /> GridRepublic members run a screensaver that allows their computers to work on public-interest research projects when the machines are not otherwise in use. This screensaver does not affect performance of the host computer any more than an ordinary screensaver does.</p> <p>By aggregating idle resources from users around the world, we create a massive supercomputer.</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_distributed_computing_projects" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_distributed_computing_projects</a></p> <p>BOINC<br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Open_Infrastructure_for_Network_Computing" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Open_Infrastructure_for_Network_Computing</a> </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-18566 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:57:54 +0000 sukibabe 18566@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Since this topic came up again. Here is a good link to some fun.</p> <p>Unfortunately, Krazy Dads site is having some difficulty at this time.</p> <p>I have Metascope on my Dell Desktop. Try it when he gets the Google issue fixed.</p> <p><a href="http://www.krazydad.com/metascope.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.krazydad.com/metascope.php</a></p> <p>An alternate page: <a href="http://www.krazydad.com/windows_freebies.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.krazydad.com/windows_freebies.php</a><br /> This page also has Mac ones.</p> <p>Suki </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-18545 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:27:09 +0000 native1 18545@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Replying to post #3 by Whiterabbit regarding an Earth View screen saver. I'm not sure if this is the one you had in mind but I have this one on my computer and it is very interactive. I am a geography buff anyway so I especially like this one even though it comes with a tool bar that some may not want (you know how to get rid of it). It is called 3D Earth Screensaver offered by many sites on the web but is a product of Crawler LLC. It does come with an uninstaller, so why not give it a try!</p> <p><a href="http://www.crawler.com/products/3D-Earth-Screensaver.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.crawler.com/products/3D-Earth-Screensaver.aspx</a> </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-15155 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:18:33 +0000 Lockett 15155@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I use Electric Sheep:</p> <ul><a href="http://electricsheep.org/" rel="nofollow">http://electricsheep.org/</a></ul> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2381#post-15154 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:15:26 +0000 scubaguy (R.I.P.) 15154@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Here's one that works with single as well as multiple monitor setups It will extend across multiple screens not just clone mode.</p> <p><a href="http://www.reallyslick.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.reallyslick.com/</a> </p>