Astro Gemini's software always installs easily without problems. Only thing is that not only is this a boring screen saver but a laptop fan WRECKER. When one is away from one's computer then your computer need not work hard for hours. This will shorten the life span of your fan and processor.
Nice try but no cigar!

Paul  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+22)

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#5: "Only thing is that not only is this a boring screen saver but a laptop fan WRECKER. When one is away from one’s computer then your computer need not work hard for hours. This will shorten the life span of your fan and processor."

3D screensavers use Direct X or OpenGL with your graphics hardware to display the screensaver graphics. If your graphics hardware normally enters a low power state when your PC/laptop is idle, running a screensaver it's no longer idle, so you won't go into power-saving mode the same way.

Beyond that, less capable graphics hardware may have to work harder, closer to max. Higher end graphics hardware may produce more heat & take more power to run, not because it's working so hard, but it's just no longer in that lower power state, & those graphics cards [& chipsets on a laptop] generally take more power & generate more heat. In between those 2 are newer CPUs with a built in graphics.

AS far as screensavers killing your laptop or PC go, it's a bit like saying never turn your laptop or PC on, never, ever use them, & they might last longer. Besides the obvious, why have them if you don't use them argument, electronics, with few exceptions like flash RAM, do not wear out from use. Mechanical components like fans do wear, but critical fans are generally running anyway -- they might increase their speed under load when things start heating up a bit, so you notice them, but they're usually still spinning unless the PC's off or asleep. Fans pretty rarely fail, being designed to run 24/7, but if they do quit, if/when things get too hot the system should shut itself down automatically before any damage can occur.

mike  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+19)

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Obviously not a burner/converter they're giving away today, hence all the negatives.

No 5, If you are going to leave your laptop alone. Turn it off, then it will last even longer! Don't just blame the screensavers!

Frank  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+10)

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In now what seems to be the distant past, back in the days when F1 stood for something more than the F-All it represents today, motorsport fans salivated over the latest release of an F1 game from a designer so famous then that we all knew his name but now I, for one, can't even remember.

This screensaver reminds me of those days: good graphics, excellent fluidity, and an appealing "arcade" feel; it's more like turning on the PC and finding youself in the middle of a game than watching a screensaver kick in. I don't know whether it's a keeper or not but kudos to the creators -- kudos, too, to AstroGemini, unfailingly (and tediously) slammed on here because screensavers are so-oooo yesterday / so-ooo boring, when in fact it's a developer of honest repute which has never sought to spam or scam any of its users.

Thanks, GOTD, and thanks AstroGemini: rather than waste my time watching the US Grand Prix today and listening to all that excited talk about how, er, a tire is graining -- oh gosh wow! The sheer thrill, Mr Ecclestone! -- I'll run this screensaver: it's a darn sight more satisfying to view than anything served up in Formula Gone. . .

MikeR  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+9)

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Note to AstroGeminy: It would be nice if we could see how it looks before installing. It could be a screencapture would have helped.

drvajra  –  11 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+9)

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