C2D MBP - sleep light oddity

[Westside guy]

Hey,

I have noticed that, with my C2D Macbook Pro, the sleep light stays on if the lid is down and an external monitor is connected - even though the machine is running.

If I open the lid (while running w/ the external monitor) the light goes off; then if I shut it the light comes back on again.

Not a big deal but somewhat annoying. Anyone have any ideas? I don't particularly want to take it back (at least yet) for a non-performance-related issue.

 

[aristobrat]

Isn't that normal anytime that the LCD is off but the computer is still running (i.e. when plugged into a monitor, or when the power settings turn off the LCD but leave the computer on).

 

[EricNau]

The sleep light will be solid when the internal monitor is off, but the machine is still completely on.
The light will pulse when the machine is sleeping.

 

[makingthebanned]

The light is there to let you know the machine is still running...
It's meant to do that.

 

[Westside guy]

Huh. My Powerbook (Al 15" 1.25GHz) didn't do that - its sleep light was completely off under those circumstances. So you're saying that was a flaw, and this is correct?

 

[aristobrat]

I think it's more of a design change. The Core Duo MacBook Pros that I used earlier this year did that, as does my MacBook.

 

[Benjamindaines]

It's normal, stop fussing over the little things.

 

[Westside guy]

It's normal, stop fussing over the little things.

Dude. Since the light was on, based on how my PB behaved I figured it was asleep and put it in my bag to go home (another thing that's different - if you removed AC from the Powerbook, even with an external monitor connected it'd go to sleep. The MBP doesn't; you have to tell it to). The thing got bloody hot in my laptop bag - not really a good thing.

Of course it's always easier to just assume you know why a person asked a particular question without bothering to ask. Hey, whatever makes you happy.

 

[aristobrat]

Of course it's always easier to just assume you know why a person asked a particular question without bothering to ask. Hey, whatever makes you happy.

Meh, like how it was easier for you to assume that the way your MBP worked was flawed without bothering to have read the manual?

 

[doubledangerbat]

I read the service manual and it was a change in design that they did. They wanted users to realize that the system was on when the display may make them think otherwise.

When you boot up, reboot, start up from CD, connect to external monitors, etc. your sleep light will be solid to let you know something is going on and it's on. This saves you from hitting the power button many times, hitting keys, etc.

Really cool insight!

 

[apunkrockmonk]

My MBP will go to sleep if you remove the power from it when in clamshell mode. I usually manually put it to sleep anyway.

Twice it has hung when going to sleep and I didn't realize it and 10 minutes later when I got to class it was very hot. I had to hard reboot it both times. I'm not sure what causes this, I'd bet its software related.

 

[cLin]

In a relation question, is there any freaking way to get rid of the light all together? I hate it when it pulses at night and I am trying to sleep. Anyway to hack it besides putting black tape over the light?

 

[Infinity]

It's normal, stop fussing over the little things.

A pretty insensitive thing to say, let alone inconsiderate. Its actually the "little things" that sets Apple apart from other computer hardware companies.

 

[Benjamindaines]

Dude. Since the light was on, based on how my PB behaved I figured it was asleep and put it in my bag to go home (another thing that's different - if you removed AC from the Powerbook, even with an external monitor connected it'd go to sleep. The MBP doesn't; you have to tell it to). The thing got bloody hot in my laptop bag - not really a good thing.

Of course it's always easier to just assume you know why a person asked a particular question without bothering to ask. Hey, whatever makes you happy.

I suppose that could be a real problem, I assumed that everything was the same as the powerbook. Sorry