Alarm clock computer help please, pleeeeeeeeeeease?

February 28, 2012 8:26 PM

Phone died. Phone is also my alarm clock. Left my charger at work. How do I make my computer into a reliable alarm clock?

I have a MacBook Pro, googling this weirdly hasn't turned up very many results.

Anyone have any ideas? I'd very much like to be at work on time tomorrow, so all suggestions are appreciated.

posted by thebrokenmuse to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

If you keep your laptop on and connected to the Internet overnight, Online Alarm Clock works.
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:27 PM on February 28, 2012 [3 favorites]

This ought to do the trick. (Caveat: I don't use this myself.)
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:28 PM on February 28, 2012

I used Tomorrowful's suggestion for years as my alarm clock. It will respond to the remote that may have come with your computer. Best snooze button ever.
posted by bessel functions seem unnecessarily complicated at 8:30 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

You can also set a calendar event with an alarm. I've often used System Of A Down - Chop Suey simply for the first lyric.
posted by mce at 8:42 PM on February 28, 2012

I actually do use Alarm Clock. I can vouch that it works just dandy.
posted by dithmer at 8:47 PM on February 28, 2012

If you do any of the above, make sure to turn off any automatic sleep or hibernation.
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 9:17 PM on February 28, 2012 [2 favorites]

Do you have your old cell phone kicking around, even if not on a plan? My crappy flip-phone still functions as a decent backup alarm.
posted by Pomo at 9:28 PM on February 28, 2012

In shareware, Aurora runs iTunes, as well as other programs, and the commercialware Awaken is similar. Of the two, Aurora will scan all your iTunes playlists on start up, so if you have a lot of playlists, it can take a bit to start up.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:42 PM on February 28, 2012

Yes, Alarm Clock is awesome. Use it.
posted by mykescipark at 10:10 PM on February 28, 2012

When travelling I use iSnooze. I like waking up to music and this connects to iTunes.

From the webpage "iSnooze sits in your system tray and lets you schedule times for iTunes to start playing. Spacebar activated snooze, configurable snooze time, gradual volume increasing, multiple alarm schedules, playlist selection, temporary pausing when you reach your computer to give you time to shut it off"
posted by alchemist at 1:07 AM on February 29, 2012

I was stuck somewhere with no intertubes, once, and needed to be up at 5 the following morning, so had the task scheduler start Skype at the appointed time, and I woke with a ssssssssshhhhhhhhLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH.
posted by kengraham at 5:13 AM on February 29, 2012