Intel is touting an instant on technology it calls Quick Resume, but in fact it’s more like always on.

According to this page on the Intel website, the technology makes a PC behave like a consumer electronic device. It really should say makes it “looks” like it behaves as a consumer electronics device.

In reality, the Quick Resume driver does nothing more than stop the output of video and audio. The PC continues running.

The hard drives could keep spinning, the CPU will continue to cycle away ineffectively and the system fans will add a pleasant hum to your lounge room evermore.

Apart from chewing through your electricity bill, the system may not even give the appearance of having switched off!

When video output is stopped some monitors may display “no input” when in Quick Resume mode, says Intel.