How to properly shut down your Macbook?

Question

Hello, I have been using a Macbook Pro for nearly a year now. I would like to know what is the proper way to shut down your macbook?
I went to iStudy for some app instalment and the sales asisstant gave me a piece of (advice?) that whenever I want to shut down my macbook, i should just snap it close after I have quit all the running applications. I don't have to press the shut down button on the keyboard or choose shut down at the apple upper menu bar cause it may damage my RAM.
Yet, I knew this girl who just paid 2K just to fix her motherboard due to improper way of shutting down her Mac.
So, my problem is do you have to shut your Mac down JUST by snapping it close (and of course, quit all the running applications)? Or you shut your Mac down by simply go to the Apple in the upper menu bar and choose shut down?

Answer 1

Hi alswaki,
When you close all apps and then physically close it, you are putting the Mac into Sleep mode, not shutting it down. So, it depends on what you actually want to do. When you go to the Apple menu and select Shut Down, it literally shuts off the Mac, and you have to push the on/off button to start it back up. By closing the lid, you are putting it into Sleep mode so when you open the lid again, the Mac doesn't have to be powered back on to start up again.
Both are correct things to do. I pretty much don't shut down my Mac at all. I close my apps, and close the lid, then plug it in to recharge. When I want to use it, I open it and it "wakes up". I only restart it when I need to for an update, I pretty much never shut it down.
But again, either way is fine to do. If you want to completely power down your Mac when you finish using it for the day, then you would select the Shut Down option. Otherwise, just close it to put it into Sleep mode when not in use.
Cheers,
GB