[ANN] Power Manager 3.5 - Reduce Your Mac's Energy Costs

1. Graham Miln - 4 January 2007

   DssW, the leading developer of Mac energy saving software, today announced the launch of Power Manager 3.5 for Mac OS X. The new version of Power Manager makes energy saving easy. Power Manager 3.5 introduces a Schedule Assistant to help users start saving immediately; a status menu that provides quick access to upcoming events; and AppleScript, Automator, and UNIX scripting to give advanced users greater control over their schedule.

   For more information about Power Manager visit
   <http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/>

   Download the free 30 day demonstration
   <http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/dsswpowermanager.dmg.zip>

   The status menu gives users easy access to their schedule. It takes advantage of new flexible scheduling in Power Manager 3.5, allowing users to cancel or delay any pending event with a single click. The status menu features a new Quick Schedule function, the fastest way to schedule one-off events.

   Power Manger 3.5 has some great new features for administrators and advanced users. "Scheduling your Mac has never been so easy," said Graham Miln, DssW's director. "The new engine puts the full capabilities of Power Manager in the hands of our users." Applescript, Automator, and UNIX scripting, allows administrators to control and customise Power Manager 3.5 to meet the individual needs of their organisation. Security is now delegated to the Mac OS X authentication services, providing better integration of Power Manager 3.5 with existing solutions.

   The Power Manager System Preference features an improved interface, allowing users to name events in their schedule; and undo support, giving users the freedom to experiment. The System Preference is home to the Schedule Assistant. The Schedule Assistant helps users get started with Power Manager 3.5 by creating a customised schedule to suit their lifestyle.

   Other new features include launchd support, improved notification dialogs, and software update checks.

   Power Manager helps users save energy by automating their Macs. Users can schedule their Macs to start up or wake, shut down, restart, log out, switch to the login window, and sleep.

   Whether you have one Mac or 10,000, Power Manager makes saving energy simple.

   Pricing and Availability

   Power Manager is available today through the DssW web site <http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/>, for EUR20. Volume discounts for +100 Macs are available. System requirements are Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

   Version 3.5 is free for registered users of Power Manager 3. --
   mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
   http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software

2. Dave Balderstone - 4 January 2007

   Previously, Graham Miln wrote:

   Power Manager is available today through the DssW web site <http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/>, for EUR20.

   And how long is the cost recovery period, I wonder...

3. Jolly Roger - 4 January 2007

   On 2007-01-04 04:33:32 -0600, Graham Miln said:

   DssW, the leading developer of Mac energy saving software, today announced the launch of Power Manager 3.5 for Mac OS X. The new version of Power Manager makes energy saving easy.

   Energy saving in Mac OS X is not hard as it is.

   JR

4. Graham Miln - 4 January 2007

   Previously, Dave Balderstone wrote:

   And how long is the cost recovery period, I wonder...

   Depends on your situation, but four common set ups are costed for energy-only return on investment at the link below.

   <http://dssw.co.uk/powermanager/energysaving/index.html>

   The full research is available at this second link.

   <http://dssw.co.uk/research/index.html>

   Kind regards,

   Graham Miln

   mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
   http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software

5. Tim McNamara - 4 January 2007

   LOL!

6. Dave Balderstone - 4 January 2007

   They claim two years for a single Mac. However, they are selling version 3.5 for EUR20 with absolutely no indication of an upgrade price or policy.

   So... If I buy 3.5 now, and it will take 2- 4 years (yeah, I'm cynical about the 2 years claim) to recover my cost... What happens when OS X 10.5 is released and Lo! And Behold! I need an update? Do I pay another EUR20? It appears so from the web site.

   In that case, this software not only saves me nothing, it costs me hard currency to "save energy"...

   No thanks, I'll pass.

7. Graham Miln - 5 January 2007

   Dave, thanks for your cynical view. It helps keep our efforts in perspective. :-)

   Upgrades for Power Manager 3 have always been free and will continue to be so. An updated main page and an additional page detailing upgrades has been added.

   <http://dssw.co.uk/powermanager/upgrade.html>

   With regard to the estimated 2 year energy-saving only ROI period, the research is provided in clear English. Of course, for many of our users the energy saving is a nice bonus on top of a useful product.

   <http://dssw.co.uk/powermanager/technical/features.html>

   Sorry not to gain you as a customer; maybe next time. ;-)

   Kind regards,

   Graham Miln

   mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
   http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software

8. Dave Balderstone - 5 January 2007

   A quick skim through the white paper does reveal the cost per kWh used to calculate annual savings of $50 - $100 per year per computer & monitor. What was it?

   Also, those savings don't match the two year cost recovery you claim for an individual license. What am I missing there?

   Sorry not to gain you as a customer; maybe next time.

   Indeed. I am impressed with your response to my "cynical view".

   djb

   "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- G.B. Shaw

9. Dave Balderstone - 5 January 2007

   Previously, Dave Balderstone wrote:

   A quick skim through the white paper does reveal the cost per kWh used to calculate annual savings of $50 - $100 per year per computer & monitor. What was it?

   Typing before my morning coffee:

   "A quick skim through the white paper does NOT reveal the cost per kWh used"

10. Paul Sture - 5 January 2007

    Previously, Dave Balderstone wrote:

    "A quick skim through the white paper does NOT reveal the cost per kWh used"

    Um, I've just looked for this white paper and couldn't find it. Anyone have a url handy please?

    Paul Sture

11. Michelle Steiner - 5 January 2007

    Previously, Graham Miln wrote:

    Upgrades for Power Manager 3 have always been free and will continue to be so. An updated main page and an additional page detailing upgrades has been added.

    So if Power Manager 3.x is not compatible with OS X 10.5, and you decide to call the Leopard-compatible version 4.0, woud that entail a new registration fee?

    I downloaded your demo, and will install it the next time I want to restart my Macintosh, but I'm not going to restart it just to evaluate a demonstration program. But I don't see how it can help me, personally. I keep the Mac running 24/7, at night it runs the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks at 3 am. Then at 5 am it does a backup. During the day, I'm on and off the computer all day, so shutting it down and turning it on four to eight times a day seems counterproductive.

    I do have one question not directly related to the product, though. Why do you zip the .dmg file? .dmg files can be downloaded without any problems; zipping them merely adds an extra step at both ends, with no discernable advantage.

    Support the troops: Bring them home ASAP.

12. Dave Balderstone - 5 January 2007

    <http://dssw.co.uk/research/computer_energy_consumption.html>

    djb

13. Dave Balderstone - 5 January 2007

    The other issue is component failure. We have a lot of computers that run 24/7, and the majority of board and drive failures we experience is after a prolonged power outage, where the UPS's initiate a shutdown.

    That, combined with our rates (half the assumed rate in the white paper which means at least a 4-year ROI), really preclude me from any serious interest in this software. I've no doubt there's a niche for it somewhere, but it isn't here.

14. Paul Sture - 5 January 2007

    Thanks.

    Paul Sture

15. Graham Miln - 5 January 2007

    Given your usage pattern, it understandable that Power Manager 3.5's energy saving alone may not be reason enough.

    I do have one question not directly related to the product, though. Why do you zip the .dmg file? .dmg files can be downloaded without any problems; zipping them merely adds an extra step at both ends, with no discernable advantage.

    We found in testing that some older browsers had problems with downloading '.dmg' files. If time allows, we will review the issue again.

    Have a good weekend.

    Kind regards,

    Graham Miln

    mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
    http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software

16. Graham Miln - 5 January 2007

    Paul, the energy saving study is available at the link below. A page listing a set of applied examples is also linked below.

    Energy saving research
    <http://dssw.co.uk/research/index.html>

    Applied examples
    <http://dssw.co.uk/powermanager/energysaving/index.html>

    Hope this helps.

    Kind regards,

    Graham Miln

    mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
    http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software

17. Graham Miln - 5 January 2007

    Dave, thank you for your detailed replies.

    It has been interesting to hear the range of opinions expressed by yourself and others throughout this thread.

    I would be interested to see modern controlled studies demonstrating component failure, to support the anecdotal evidence.

    Power Manager has been used in a hospital environment to actively seek out premature component failure with repeated, automated restarts. The users were able to isolate a few bad Macs out of a thousand before they went into critical locations.

    What ROI would you need to see before showing serious interest? Feel like chatting privately? :-)

    Have a good weekend.

    Kind regards,

    Graham Miln

    mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
    http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software

18. Michelle Steiner - 5 January 2007

    Unfortunately, OS X upgrades have broken software before, so it is a concern.

    Understandable. I'm in no hurry to try it out, so I'll wait until I need to restart the computer.

    When I saw your first message, my reaction was "Here's another spammer touting his product. Posts to newsgroups and we'll never see him again." I'm glad to see that I was wrong about that.

    Support the troops: Bring them home ASAP.

19. Dave Balderstone - 5 January 2007

    Previously, Michelle Steiner wrote:

    When I saw your first message, my reaction was "Here's another spammer touting his product. Posts to newsgroups and we'll never see him again." I'm glad to see that I was wrong about that.

    I'll echo that.

    djb

20. Dave Balderstone - 5 January 2007

    Maximum 12 months.

    Feel like chatting privately? :-)

    At this point, no. I'm no longer the IT director here (took a sideways move a few years back) and our current head is on vacation.

    I will download the demo and have a look, and have a conversation with him at some point after his return, though.

    Best wishes for your continued success,

    djb

21. Randy Howard - 9 January 2007

    On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 04:33:32 -0600, Graham Miln wrote (in a previous article):

    DssW, the leading developer of Mac energy saving software, today announced the launch of Power Manager 3.5 for Mac OS X.

    Or I could just click on the "save energy" power management option and get the same thing for free. Pass.

    Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)
    "The power of accurate observation is called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

22. Randy Howard - 9 January 2007

    On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 04:33:32 -0600, Graham Miln wrote (in a previous article):

    DssW, the leading developer of Mac energy saving software, today announced the launch of Power Manager 3.5 for Mac OS X.

    Or I could just click on the "save energy" power management option and get the same thing for free. Pass.

    Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)
    "The power of accurate observation is called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

23. Randy Howard - 9 January 2007

    Sorry for the double post, dunno what happened. The correct wording on the option I am referring to is actually "Better Energy Savings", which shows up in the top bar on my MBP under the battery icon. Don't remember if it is there by default on a fresh install or I put it there.

    Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)
    "The power of accurate observation is called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

24. Graham Miln - 12 January 2007

    Randy, thanks for the gibe. :-)

    You are right, Power Manager on your single MacBook Pro is unlikely to gain you a huge amount of energy saving. It all comes down to individual usage patterns.

    Power Manager is best suited to saving energy within managed Mac environments, and for those with specific power scheduling needs.

    <http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/resources/guide/creating_a_schedule.h tml>

    Looking forward to convincing you with a future version.

    Kind regards,

    Graham Miln

    mailto:support@dssw.co.uk
    http://www.dssw.co.uk/ Mac energy saving and power management software