Hands-free operation of your computer can come in really, well, handy at certain times. Whether it's work, play, family issues, or some combination of all three, there are plenty of times that a person is necessarily away from his or her computer for long periods of time. As a result, it may never be shut down or restarted properly. This can not only be bad for the machine in terms of wear and tear, but it can also leave a user's machine wide-open to malicious attacks and infiltration. Happily, the Simple Shutdown Timer fixes all of that.

The Simple Shutdown Timer is a Windows-exclusive program that does just what it says. Simply specify a duration in hours, minutes, and seconds, and the program will initiate a countdown. At the end of this countdown, your computer will either restart, log you off of whatever network you're on (or simply the machine itself), send your machine into hibernation or sleep mode, or, as the name implies, shut your computer down completely.

This program, having only a few functions and no frills to speak of, is very lightweight and easy to install and use. Even so, it is not without its share of drawbacks. A pro/con summary for this program can be found below.

Pros

In addition to being super svelte, this program is free to install and use. Additionally, it has an advantage some beefier competitors don't: If you change your mind, and want to simply log off rather than shut down your machine, for instance, you can cancel or modify your instructions to the program during countdown.

Cons

This program, though it does its job well, is very limited in scope. If you want bells & whistles, look somewhere else. It is also Windows-only, and virtually devoid of configuration options.

Whether or not you choose to utilize the Simple Shutdown Timer, the preceding review should help you make a quick, easy, and informed choice.