The "modern standby" function is configured in notebook computers. Its original intention is to enable computers to be turned on and used like mobile phones. However, this technology, promoted by many giants in the industry, has caused a considerable amount of controversy and many problems during actual use.
Industry Consensus and Technology Shift
A few years ago, core manufacturers such as Intel, AMD, and Microsoft all agreed that the experience of using laptops should be similar to that of mobile phones. The solution they are promoting is a new technology standard called "modern standby", which aims to achieve fast wake-up and networked standby. This direction received support from the entire hardware and software industry chain at that time and encountered almost no resistance. Therefore, related development was quickly launched and gradually integrated into the new generation of product design.
The gap between ideal and reality
The computer really reached consumers after it was equipped with the new standby mode, and problems began to show up at this time. Many users have discovered that after closing the lid of their computer and putting it in their backpack, the computer body occasionally heats up abnormally, and the battery power is consumed extremely quickly. This runs counter to the original idea of "convenience and power saving", and instead causes problems for device safety and battery life. The root cause of the problem is that modern standby power consumption control to maintain network connectivity and application activity is much more complex than previously assumed.
supply chain lock-in effect
While waiting for users to report problems, it is already extremely difficult to turn back. Starting from AMD's Ryzen 5000 series and Intel's 10th generation Core, the chip level supports modern standby by default, thus abandoning the traditional S3 sleep state. For computer manufacturers, if they want to enable the traditional S3 mode again, they will have to invest additional R&D costs in debugging and testing.
The disappearance of market choice
Because of additional cost considerations, most notebook brands no longer provide traditional hibernation options. On the market, new computers that support S3 standby are rapidly decreasing, and consumers have actually lost their right to choose. Currently, only a few high-end business notebooks, such as Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 series, deliberately retain this feature to meet the stringent requirements of specific business users for stability and battery life.
Adaptation of user habits
It should be noted that this time of technological change, for the vast majority of ordinary users, its scope of impact is actually limited. For a long time, most users of laptops have formed the habit of shutting down their computers instead of putting them into standby. Relevant data shows that more than 95% of users will choose to shut down their computers when they are not using them for a long time. Even if there are users who have a bad experience, it will not cause ongoing trouble.
Thoughts on technological evolution
This industry-led technology migration reflects the risks of simplification that may arise from "consensus" in consumer electronics product development. When giants work together to define a "better" experience, users' actual needs and diverse scenarios are occasionally ignored. The evolution of technology should include more flexibility and user choice, rather than simple replacement.
Have you ever encountered abnormal power consumption or heat generation when your laptop is in standby mode? Are you more inclined to keep your computer on standby at all times, or are you accustomed to shutting it down after use? Welcome to share your experiences and opinions in the comment area. If you feel that this article is helpful to you, please give it a like and support.
