Leaving Skype on all night?

[Lissy]

I know Skype sleepover-type things are popular for LDR couples, because it really is comforting getting to "sleep with" your SO while miles apart. My SO and I fortunately are able to have Skype sleepovers practically every night, and even though it disconnects during the night sometimes, it really does help both of sleep, knowing the other is right there. ^^

I've been having some computer trouble lately, though (I recently got it back from a repair shop because of a virus) and I was wondering...does anyone know if it's "bad" for your computer to have Skype running for so long? Has anyone's computer performance suffered because of it? I'm rather paranoid about my computer getting viruses or not working as well right now, because I don't want to shell out more money to have it fixed again. I do turn my computer off when I'm at school for the day to give it time to "rest," but I don't know if that matters very much. Just wondering if anyone had any advice/input regarding this! Thanks!

[Minerva]

I'm pretty sure it's not bad so long as it doesn't cause your computer to overheat, but I'm not sure. If someone doesn't get an answer to you by tomorrow, I'll ask my SO (he's a computer whiz).

I'd love to try this, but with the 6 hour time difference, I'd have to go to bed at 6pm, heh.

[BoogleBee]

I wouldn't have a clue if it is bad for it or not! Sorry.

I wish we could do those. But due to the fact that skype uses up a lot of broadband we can't do it as there are 5 people in my family who all use the broadband and my parents are sick of it going over the limit ..eek. And also with a 10 or 12 hour time difference we don't lie down at the same time.

We did do it once and it was AMAZING! She woke me up in the morning though as she moved to the kitchen and was talking to her mum loudly, forgetting i was still online. I loved it though

[hxcbreakdance]

Aww I'd love to do that! I only have a desktop though so that wouldn't work. As for it being bad for your computer, it really shouldn't be. Just make sure to set your laptop on a hard surface so it doesn't overheat through the night.

[JennyRW]

Idk but if you find out let us know please

[screammaayday]

Hi! I do this every night with my SO, have been for about 10 months now! It's not harmful to your performance on your computer. The only thing it may be harmful to is a battery on a laptop from being plugged in for extended periods of time. It's essentially just like if you were using your computer during the time it's left on Skype. And I'm not just pullin' this outta my ears, cause I'm a computer tech.

[LeilaniJoi]

We used to do this all the time both on desk top and on laptops. Matter of fact my SO was only on a laptop. I used both, but the laptop next to the bed when I went to sleep. We have sat up all night talking and used to sleep together with the headphones. The other thing that works well and uses less bandwidth than Skype is Yahoo voice. Since it's dark we didn't need video but was nice to hear him breathing through the night.

[HollzHeartsChris]

I fall asleep to my SO sometimes, like I did last night, and he falls asleep to me, though mostly he does it. I get to listen to him fall asleep right before I leave for uni in the morning and I swear, it's the sweetest thing.

I wouldn't have thought leaving Skype running would cause damage to the computer. If it does, let us know

---------- Post added at 04:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:16 PM ----------

I fall asleep to my SO sometimes, like I did last night, and he falls asleep to me, though mostly he does it. I get to listen to him fall asleep right before I leave for uni in the morning and I swear, it's the sweetest thing.

I wouldn't have thought leaving Skype running would cause damage to the computer. If it does, let us know

[srigg009]

The only suggestion I have is to set your laptop on a table/desk (hard surface), instead of on your bed because it won't get much cool air that way. But other than the over-heating problem, their should be no problems at all.

[Lissy]

Thanks, everyone! I feel much better now. I always leave my laptop on my nightstand, so I think it should be okay.

[SquishyLove]

We do it too, and I concur with the others that it should be ok for a laptop as long as it doesn't overheat. We're not doing it 24/7, and during the workweek I shut my laptop down anyway, so it gets some rest then. I leave my computer on my nightstand, and he has a desktop and puts his webcam on a chair close to his bed at night, and we watch each other sleep. It's very sweet and also very comforting!

[bethyylovee]

My SO an I leave SOMETHING on every single night. If it isn't Skype, it's the phone. We've been doing this for a little over a year and I've never noticed any computer problems or phone problems. I don't see that it's any different than leaving Skype on all day. Even though Stephen and I are 762 miles apart and don't live with each other. Sometimes it feels like we really do "live together." The only time we're not talking is when one or both of us is gone. When he goes to school or work, or when I go to work, or when one of us goes out with friends or family, we're still texting as much as possible. And the minute we're both home, Skype is on. We could be doing stuff together or off doing our own things. Different rooms of the house even and Skype is on. So I spend so much time with him with Skype on, and I've never noticed any kind of damage to my computer at all.

[Haley53]

The only issue I can foresee would be the fan/overheating and needing to have your computer on a hard surface. Because of how often/frequently I use my computer, it's actually needing to have its fan replaced, so even if I don't leave Skype on regularly, this is potentially something to think about.

[SteveRex]

I have my computer propped up on pieces of wood on each side so it doesn't get too hot, and i also have a little fan behind it that i turn on sometimes. I've had my current computer for a year and it hasn't seemed to have any problems yet as Beth and I have been leaving skype on overnight for the past couple months. My old laptop had an overheating problem that would abruptly shut off sometimes much to her dismay, and i think that was caused by leaving it on top of a bed for a while, so definitely make sure it's on a hard surface.

[lademoiselle]

I doubt this is something my SO would care to do. He can be a rather troubled sleeper, and has to turn off all technology a couple of hours before he goes to bed. He's never used Skype either and doesn't seem particularly interested in getting it, so I guess something like this is out of the question for us!