Oh crap - really? Why, what happens? I have my laptop constanly connected to mains power and internet, unless I take it with me somewhere or take it to bed with me.

What should I be doing?

Putting it in hibernate.

A laptop does use less power than a desktop, but it's always best to put any 'puter in hibernate, or standby when not in use. It significantly reduces the wattage outage.

excuses excuses...If you leave the computer on, then you're responsible for answering IM's and emails right away     

oh

laptops are designed in thought that they are often switched on and off, whereas desktop computers are designed in the thought of having them on all the time. thats what i have heard that the hard disks are optimized accordingly. i would say there is not much difference, but i would say a desktop running all the time the hard disk may lasts 20% longer and maybe a lap top running all the time may last 5  to 10% less than if not on all the time, those numbers are only guesses, intuitive estimates,

i think it does not make that much of a difference,
and i do have a lappy and it is on and logged in all the time....

although mine goes in hibernate mode after time, i would think yours too, and that would be already would save the hard disk and resulting it to last long, (which is practically as switching it off)