External LCD only WITHOUT using in clamshell mode?

[Abstract]

Hi, I just want to ask something very specific. I did a search in these forums for an answer, but as you can imagine, the words "MacBook" and "external monitor" appear quite often.

Anyway, I'd like to use my MacBook hooked up to a 20" Dell 2007 WFP (got one with an S-IPS panel as well!!). I'd like to do so without using my MB in clamshell mode because I like my MacBook's keyboard, although I'll still use an external mouse. I just don't want the MacBook display on because it's still using 32 MB of total RAM, leaving only 32 MB to run my external Dell display.

So is there a way to only use my external 20" display, turn off my MacBook display, and do so without putting it in clamshell mode so that I can still use the keyboard?

 

[Hummer]

Hi, I just want to ask something very specific. I did a search in these forums for an answer, but as you can imagine, the words "MacBook" and "external monitor" appear quite often.

Anyway, I'd like to use my MacBook hooked up to a 20" Dell 2007 WFP (got one with an S-IPS panel as well!!). I'd like to do so without using my MB in clamshell mode because I like my MacBook's keyboard, although I'll still use an external mouse. I just don't want the MacBook display on because it's still using 32 MB of total RAM, leaving only 32 MB to run my external Dell display.

So is there a way to only use my external 20" display, turn off my MacBook display, and do so without putting it in clamshell mode so that I can still use the keyboard?

Why not just turn out the backlight? I doubt there is any way to turn it off completely without putting into clamshell.

 

[ebouwman]

Why not just turn out the backlight? I doubt there is any way to turn it off completely without putting into clamshell.

the screen is still on, you can still see the image if you look closely, all that does is save power.

What you can do, (or so i've heard, not really sure if this works) is plug in the external monitor set it up and whatever, and then shut the lid, then you wake it with your mouse if it goes to sleep and open the lid back up and the screen should be off.

again i'm not really 100% sure that this will work

 

[Hummer]

the screen is still on, you can still see the image if you look closely, all that does is save power.

What you can do, (or so i've heard, not really sure if this works) is plug in the external monitor set it up and whatever, and then shut the lid, then you wake it with your mouse if it goes to sleep and open the lid back up and the screen should be off.

again i'm not really 100% sure that this will work

Whoops, I forgot about that method. This does work with my ibook, so I'm sure it would work with a MacBook.

 

[yippy]

That is called clamshell mode, exactly what the OP is trying to avoid as he wants to use the MacBook keyboard.

That said, I don't think it is possible, at least not with the built in Apple display drivers. Maybe a 3rd party hack could do it though.

 

[Scottyk9]

What you can do, (or so i've heard, not really sure if this works) is plug in the external monitor set it up and whatever, and then shut the lid, then you wake it with your mouse if it goes to sleep and open the lid back up and the screen should be off.

again i'm not really 100% sure that this will work

starting in clamshell, then opening the lid does indeed work (at least with a MBP)

 

[ebouwman]

That is called clamshell mode, exactly what the OP is trying to avoid as he wants to use the MacBook keyboard.

That said, I don't think it is possible, at least not with the built in Apple display drivers. Maybe a 3rd party hack could do it though.

the idea is to open the computer back up once it's in clamshell mode

 

[Abstract]

Well what I basically want is my laptop to be fully operational, but for the screen to be off, leaving only the external LCD.


That way, my external monitor gets the full 64 MB of RAM assigned by the Intel Integrated graphics. If I have both monitors on, the 64 MB of RAM available for the video card is split into two sets of 32 MB --- 32 MB for the MacBook display, and 32 MB for the external LCD, which seems like a waste.

And besides, my MacBook LCD is annoying when I'm only interested in looking at my external LCD.

 

[chatoyer]

1. Hook up your monitor

2. Press the power button on your Mac.

3. quickly (and I mean before you hear the startup chime) close the lid.

4. Wait for the Mac to fully boot (you'll see it booting on the external monitor, of course).

5. Once you see a desktop, you can open up the lid.

 

[zyuzin4]

the idea is to open the computer back up once it's in clamshell mode

yep works fine on my Macbook. The keyboard is functional when you open the lid back up, the computer wont wake up from clamshell mode if you open the lid. The trackpad works too... =) I'm doing it right now

 

[Abstract]

1. Hook up your monitor

2. Press the power button on your Mac.

3. quickly (and I mean before you hear the startup chime) close the lid.

4. Wait for the Mac to fully boot (you'll see it booting on the external monitor, of course).

5. Once you see a desktop, you can open up the lid.

Thanks, that worked out perfectly. Too bad I need to Shut Down and restart before this works.

yep works fine on my Macbook. The keyboard is functional when you open the lid back up, the computer wont wake up from clamshell mode if you open the lid. The trackpad works too... =) I'm doing it right now

Did you use Chatoyer's method, or do you have your own method.

 

[zyuzin4]

Did you use Chatoyer's method, or do you have your own method.

with your external display attached

while the computer is running close the lid

after it goes to sleep, click button on USB mouse, or push a button on the apple remote

the computer will turn on again and output to the external display

then you can open your lid and the screen will be off