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Portable Screensaver

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Lord_Theren
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Portable Screensaver

Since there is a PortableApps.com Wallpaper Switcher, then theoretically,, wouldn't a PortableApps.com Screensaver Switcher be possible? Since the aforementioned Walpaper Switcher is already a feature and there is possibly a portable desktop icons feature in the future, why not complete the package with a Screensaver Switcher and have a totally customized portable desktop?

John T. Haller
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Unnecessary

Screensavers are unnecessary on modern computers. Windows is pre-configured to turn off screens after a proper interval. The purpose of screensavers was back in the time of CRT monitors to prevent image burn-in (hence the name 'screen saver'). Later, when Windows and CRT monitors gained the ability to turn off the screen, the purpose was to allow the CRT screen to stay on and prevent burn in for a period of time before it was turned off because CRTs had a slow time between being turned on and being at full brightness.

The time when we needed to worry about such things is long past. So, today, using a screensaver is unnecessary and wasteful. Just set the screen turn-off time to a proper interval.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Lord_Theren
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Whenever I use my flash drive

Whenever I use my flash drive on a computer, I often have it in for up to an hour at school and pretty much all the time at home. The primary reason for me asking about a portable screensaver is because the one I use is really unique and fun to watch so sometimes when I am bored I just sit there and watch it. I set my display settings to show my screensaver after 1 minute of inactivity and to turn off my monitor a little after that.

The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.

3D1T0R
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Actually …

Last I checked Plasma screens still burned in, and pretty quick too, and while you could argue that people simply shouldn't use Plasma screens for computer monitors, it's still a valid concern for anyone who does it.

On the other hand, one could definitely say that a desktop wallpaper is unnecessary, let alone a desktop wallpaper switcher, as the wallpaper never served any technical purpose to begin with. It's just a bit of personalisation the OS allows you to do.

That being said I don't think a screensaver switcher would be particularly useful in a portable setting as most of us take our Removable Storage Devices with us when we leave someone else's computer for an extended period of time, which would mean that we'd almost never see our 'portable' screensaver anyway.

However if you really want to run your own personal screensaver wherever you go, you can easily carry the .scr file with you and just run it when you want to, though you'll want to be aware that some screensavers save settings in the registry and/or host PC's filesystem. I have actually been known to carry a particular screensaver around with me like this sometimes. Wink

~3D1T0R

John T. Haller
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Wasteful

A desktop wallpaper serves the purpose of personalizing your desktop and doesn't make a difference one way or another on power consumption. The purpose of a screen saver has been superseded by monitors having the ability to automatically and quickly turn off at the 10 minute or so timeout you'd have used a screensaver at in the past. Using a screensaver just keeps the display on longer wasting energy/batter life.

Plasma displays are barely on the market. The only time I've ever seen one attached to a computer was as a gaming display in a living room. That said, in that niche case you can just have it turn off as with an LCD.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Wm ...
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I think Ed was teasing

yes, I got it because I'm here and you're there.

Wm

3D1T0R
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My name is not Ed and I don't particularly like being called Ed.

Yes, there was a bit of teasing in there, but I was also pointing out a legitimate case where it might be a legitimate concern to some, and while you can of course set Windows to turn off the display after a certain period of time most plasma screens are designed for use as TVs, not Monitors, and thus don't turn off right away when the signal stops (the shortest I can set my LCD to turn off after is 5 minutes 'cause it's technically a TV).

What I said about the case of Wallpapers was me trying to say that the screensaver has become more like the wallpaper, in that it is now a more of a personalisation setting, rather than (as it once was) a saver of screens.

Also I'm pretty sure that executing the desired .scr when you want to see your screensaver will probably satisfy just about anyone on the "Portable Screensaver" front, so … let's try to be constructive OK?
(PS I use the PA.c Platform's Wallpaper Switching functionality, and I have a "Personal Picture" at the top right of the Menu, plus I use the OEM themeing options, so I wasn't trying to put down the idea of personalising your stuff)

~3D1T0R

Wm ...
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Not Ed? ******* stupid name choice

Not Ed? ******* stupid name choice in that case. You weren't expecting an adult to call you 3d surely?

Wm

3D1T0R
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Please keep your language clean

@Wm ... / Re: forum namesI would prefer it if you called me 3D1T0R, though if you're so opposed to using what is colloquially known as l33t on the internet ('cause that's so mature of you ;)) I don't mind being called EDITOR (or Editor), but Ed is not my name, and never will be, and I would really prefer it if you didn't use it to refer to me. I can understand if you want to call me 3D (or 3d) and won't raise a fuss about that unless it becomes ambiguous (i.e. someone else starts posting with the username 3D), but there are other people who go by Ed on these forums, so please don't refer to me as Ed.

This is an issue of personal preference, and I prefer not to be called Ed.
If you must know an alphabet only, short name to call me, I suppose I could let out that my name is Ted, but I generally prefer to be called by the name I've chosen, which in the case of these forums is 3D1T0R, and I would expect "an adult" to understand this and oblige, NOT to swear at me and call me stupid.

Now. Can we please be civil & remain on-topic?

~3D1T0R

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