I'm going to pretend this hasn't been clarified already -assuming it has already been clarified.

Does Palpatine use the force in conjunction with the mechanical parts to keep anakin alive after he becomes vader or is it only the mechanical parts that are keeping him alive? If palpatine is keeping Anakin alive with the force, is this some how related to or connected to the ability to become a "blue shadowy guy"?

Or am I missing the point in that the Sith really don't know how to do that shit?

As far as I know, Palpatine doesn't keep Anakin alive with the force....

From what Lucas has said, Anakin is still strong as hell even in the suit, he's just 20 percent weaker than Palps as opposed to being twice as powerful. In his private chamber from the OT, Anakin uses Force healing powers in an effort to recover himself and breath fresh air once again...hence why he's unmasked/unhelmeted in ESB while in it.

--> some of that information about the chamber is from drafts of ESB to explain why Vader uses the chamber and it's carried over to the Shadows of the Empire novel, though I think it's commonly known anyway.

It aint Palpatine keeping Vader alive. I think that was shot down by a source anyways, but it wouldn't make sense story-wise or cinematically either.

Sidious knows how to cheat death, he's been doing it himself for a while, but obviously he isn't interested in giving that practice to Vader. He's smart, he knows if he does, the apprentice will accelerate any thoughts to overthrow him. After all, that's what he apparently did to Plagueis.

Having Sidious "keep" Vader alive just seems to contradict that and anything about the darkside in general. Not to mention it just wouldn't make any sense to explain.

Now, is Vader's own devotion to the darkside keeping him going? Probably. That and the suit itself.

The Sith cannot use the secret of eternal life, only Jedi can. Evil must use mechanical enhancements to prolong life.

He's more machine than man - it was the suit, not the Emperor, keeping him alive. The suit was fried, Vader dies.

Dogg.

'Does Palpatine use the force in conjunction with the mechanical parts to keep anakin alive after he becomes vader...or is it only the mechanical parts that are keeping him alive?'

As i understand from the leaks thus far ....

The Plagueis power from Palp to reanimate Anakin (Midi's) with the suit keeping the vitals in check.

that's what is still confusing me

Given that we know Palpatine is human (Pablo confirmed i believe) and the state of his face, it's safe to assume that the Sith use the darkside to extend their lives. However i don't believe it's Palpatine keeping Anakin alive, but a) the suit and b) Anakin using the darkside to aid himself. I vaguely remember that in Shadows Of The Empire (EU, but probably the most i have enjoyed reading any SW novel) Vader uses the force to heal himself so that he can breathe unaided, if only for a few seconds. Now sure that's not canon, but it's a nice tidbit.