4:3 external display and 15.4" laptop display

[aiterum]

I am currently in the boat waiting for the Penryn upgraded MBPs. However, I had a question about using an external display with the laptop.

Currently I have a 19" monitor that I purchased not too long ago for use with my desktop. I would like to continue using this monitor when I purchase my laptop, and I plan on running my laptop on my desk closed, hooked up to this monitor.

However, when I want to take my computer somewhere (using the portability function of the laptop), what will happen with the display.

The question that I am asking is basically, that my external display isn't widescreen, but the MBP display is. How does the transition work when I am switching from one to the other? Is there some way to run the laptop display in 4:3, or vice versa, run the external monitor in a widescreen resolution, or should I just simply remove my external monitor from the equation? I've not actually had any personal experience using a widescreen monitor/display, so I am unsure about how these things work. I really don't want to have one of the resolutions stretched in or squished when I switch between the two.

Thoughts?

 

[mrtune]

It should just run the external at it's native resolution if you're running in extended desktop mode. When I hook up my 20" it runs at it's native resolution no problem which is much higher than the 13" on my macbook.

 

[aiterum]

I'm not sure that the really answers my question


first of all, the MB isn't widescreen, so it's a simple case of scaling down when I switch to the MB. I'm not planning on running both at once, but rather only one or the other at a time. The question I am asking is there any way to preserve the resolutions or something when I switch between one being widescreen and one being a 4:3 monitor. (So I don't have to like change wallpapers each time or resolutions every time I switch between one or the other)

 

[jeff3221]

i have a macbook with a 4:3 display. When I plug the mb in the monitor in clamshell mode, the monitor is in fullscreen and is fine. When I unplug the monitor and use the macbook, it is widescreen and fine. I hope that answers your question.

 

[mrtune]

The screen on the macbook is widescreen and runs natively at 1280x800. If I switch it to a 4:3 resolution like 1024x786 it will have black bars on the side.

When I run in extended mode, it will recognize both monitors separately and run them with different resolutions. My 20" is a widescreen monitor. So the macbook runs at it's native 1280x800 and my other monitor runs at 1680x1050. Each can have it's own background.

I have run in lid closed mode before utilizing only the big monitor. It will still run at 1680x1050. It should be no different with a non-widescreen monitor. OSX should be able to detect whatever monitor you are using and give you the correct resolution settings to pic from.

 

[eXan]

I'm not sure that the really answers my question


first of all, the MB isn't widescreen, so it's a simple case of scaling down when I switch to the MB. I'm not planning on running both at once, but rather only one or the other at a time. The question I am asking is there any way to preserve the resolutions or something when I switch between one being widescreen and one being a 4:3 monitor. (So I don't have to like change wallpapers each time or resolutions every time I switch between one or the other)

Not sure what you are worried about. OS X is smart enough to detect the native resolution of the external screen and to run it at that resolution in extended desktop mode or as one display. Switching between built-in display and external is no problem.

Oh and my the way, Apple stopped selling their last non-wide screen display in spring 2006 (when they replaced iBooks with MacBooks). MacBook has a 16:10 display, like on every monitor Apple sells now.

 

[aiterum]

Not sure what you are worried about. OS X is smart enough to detect the native resolution of the external screen and to run it at that resolution in extended desktop mode or as one display. Switching between built-in display and external is no problem.

Oh and my the way, Apple stopped selling their last non-wide screen display in spring 2006 (when they replaced iBooks with MacBooks). MacBook has a 16:10 display, like on every monitor Apple sells now.

I haven't used OSX with anything other than an iBook G3 12," so I am not very familiar with how it handles things like these.

Also I wasn't aware of the MB widescreen specifications (my bad). I haven't been looking at the MB, so I haven't really paid any attention to the screen specifications on it.