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Caffeine for Mac is a great utility for preventing the computer from starting its screensaver, going to sleep, or automatically dimming its screen after a period of inactivity. It's like serving your computer a cup of coffee, so that it remains awake, just like the user does while watching a movie or reading a document. Caffeine is very simple to activate: just click on the coffee icon on the Menu bar to enable it and then click again to disable it.
Before this virtual caffeine for Mac computers was invented, users needed to access System Preferences and go to the Energy Saver panel to turn off automatic screen dimming and other options if they wanted to keep the computer awake for a while. And then they had to reverse the procedure when they finished whatever they were doing in order to restore the computer to its normal operating parameters. Caffeine solves this issue by providing a one-click interaction in the Menu bar, and has several very handy custom options.
For instance, you can set the time frame during which you need the "caffeinated" computer, from 5 minutes to indefinitely. We must note here that the normal parameters of the Energy Saver panel won't be affected, yet the computer remains awake while you need it. However, don't expect this nifty app to prevent the computer from getting sleepy when you close it; there are other apps to prevent that.
Caffeine excels at what it is designed to do, and we found it useful during presentations. It could be a helpful tool for any Mac user who does things that require a temporarily insomniac computer.
Publisher's Description
From Lighthead Software:
Caffeine is a tiny program that puts an icon in the right side of your menu bar. Click it to prevent your Mac from automatically going to sleep, dimming the screen or starting screen savers. Click it again to go back. Hold down the Command key while clicking to show the menu. The menu now has a sub-menu for deactivating Caffeine automatically after a number of minutes.
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All versions:
4.8 starsout of 28 votes
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Current version:
4.8 starsout of 19 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Useful app that does the job"
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
This is a useful app that has a great design and is very easy to use.
Cons
Only thing is that it doesn't stop your mac from sleeping when you close it.
Summary
Caffeine is an incredibly useful app that does the job it's supposed to do. It's simple, effective, and best of all, it's free! The coffee cup in the menu bar is perfect and it's a great indicator of signifying whether the app is on or off. It's especially useful when you want to keep your computer running for overnight work.
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"Does exactly what it is supposed to do."
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
It works. Really.
Cons
None. (10 characters minimum)
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"Seems pretty cool.. So far.."
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
Cheap and Easy..
Cons
I wish it would just simply 'let you know' that it's working.. Not sure what the 'vapors coming out of cup mean' vs NONE of..
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"Does what is says it does."
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
Simple program. Works. Easy to use.
Cons
Can't think of any.
Summary
If you want an easy way to stop your computer from going into power saver mode, this is the program for you.
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"pretty nice"
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
awesome quick app to stop screen from dimming.
Cons
background app does use a bit of performence..
Summary
its a great app. it will be better if the background usage/ ram usage was lower
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"very helpful download without screen saver interfering"
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
ease of use, operates in background, you can turn it on and off as needed.
Cons
none. i found it to be very useful
Summary
very helpful, downloading software is much better, by turning off screen saver .
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"Provides a useful service reliably with no fuss"
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
It's there when you need it and all but invisible when you don't. One click on the icon in the menu bar turns it on/off.
Cons
At first I was reluctant to have an app running in the background all the time, however it does not seem to have had any impact on performance.
Summary
Get it.
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"Very easy. No fuss, just click it on and click it off"
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
This neat little program does one thing only and it does it very well. It keeps my screen from going to sleep. I use it during video conferencing when I'm not actively doing things that keep my screen awake.
Cons
None at all.
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"Does what it says it will and doesn't try to be clever."
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
The neat little icon is convenient and the program is easy to use. The 'activate for xxx mins" is a nice addition although the default duration on the preferences button does the same and protects my battery from my forgetfulness.
Cons
Nope! Tried but can't think of one.
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"it works very well and I use it all the time!"
Version: Caffeine 1.1.1
Pros
I like that it works at a touch and never fails.
Cons
Nothing to complain about
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