Sleepless PCs in Seattle (OK, technically it's Redmond)

According to Microsoft, computer users aren't the only ones confused by the differences between the various computer sleep states like standby, hibernate, and plain old off. So too is our application software.  In an effort to allay that confusion, the company's forthcoming version of Windows -- now codenamed Vista -- will have a much more sophisticated power management system that doesn't give apps the option of "vetoing" a manually or automatically issued standby or hibernate command.  There will be a new convenience for users too. The power button on their computers will be more conusmer electronicesque in that it will behave consistently from one computer to the next (which it doesn't do today). It will turn the PC off or, according to the news report, something really close to off, like a deep sleep. Personally, I'm hoping for off.  Otherwise, if your notebook locks up like mine does from time to time, the only way to really shut it off is to yank the battery out.  Not very user friendly.