I have a desktop, and two laptop PCs. I keep all three devices powered on 24/7. For the two laptops, I change the default configuration for the power ‘button’ to shut down regardless whether they’re plugged in or not. I disable hibernate, suspend, and sleep modes on all three devices as well. Finally, for my laptops, I’ve found an app named lidlock that locks the screen when I close the lid. It has an option named autorun in the ALT+Click menu that makes it start up when Windows starts, so Windows always locks the screen any time I close the lid, even following a reboot.
After I assembled my current desktop PC, I was curious about just how much keeping all three devices powered on cost me, so I retained the default power configuration on that device and added a power consumption monitoring device between my surge protector, and the main power supply. After a month, I tabulated the cost of the power my desktop system consumed, then changed the system’s configuration to disable the ‘features’ mentioned above, and after another month, I calculated that cost of operation. For me, the difference was minimal, less than about $2.00/month, assuming my calculations were accurate, so that’s why I keep my computers running 24/7
Ernie