Macbook Pro with external screen - who does this?

[littlepud]

So you are completely putting aside any input using TouchBar ? Is it because it didn't met any of your needs ?

I reach over and use the Touch Bar for some fictions, but for the most part the i'm on an external magic keyboard. I like the touch bar but for the moment I just prefer the ergonomics of a separate kb/mouse.

 

[thesaint024]

I'm toying with the idea of buying either a new MBP with Touch Bar, or the 2015 retina model, and coupling it with an external display (ideally 27") for use in my home office.

Who is doing this? And what results are you getting? (speed, heat, fan noise etc)

Random comment. Title of your thread reads like "who the F does this?!" I chuckle when it comes back up to the first page of posts. Carry on.

 

[audiofx]

On the LG LG27UD88W with usb-c 3.1 cable do the usb ports run at usb 3 speeds? I know on the regular macbook they slow down to usb 2.0 but since the macbook pro 13 touchbar has thunderbolt 3 it should operate properly . Any comments from those that got them?

 

[croco_dile]

Will I notice any difference in performance with a 4K monitor using HDMI->USB-C adapter.

Yes, Apple only has HDMI 1.2 which will only give you 30Hz with 4K and the experience is best described as choppy.
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On the LG LG27UD88W with usb-c 3.1 cable do the usb ports run at usb 3 speeds? I know on the regular macbook they slow down to usb 2.0 but since the macbook pro 13 touchbar has thunderbolt 3 it should operate properly . Any comments from those that got them?

I don't think the thunderbolt 3 of the new MBP is relevant as the LG only use USB C. So I reckon the speed of the usb ports on the monitor is USB 2 only.

I also had a strange problem last night when my MBP TB 13" slowed to a crawl and when I tried to restart it, it gave me a battery flat icon. When this happened, the MBP has been plugged into the LG at all times for the past 2 days. I know the battery icon in the menu bar showed it was charging and I never got any warning about battery going flat. I then recharged the battery with the Apple charger and then plugged it back into the monitor, the battery charging icon was again displayed in the menu but when I expanded the menu, it actually said "Not Charging"! I have a USB drive which was constantly plugged into the monitor, and when I unplugged the USB drive, charging resumed. And when IO plugged the drive back in, charging continued.

I think the whole USB-C technology / USB hub technology is not mature, there appears to be bugs with both the monitor and MBP. The monitor should not have interrupted charging when a USB drive was connected, and MBP should have displayed battery warnings when it was not being charged.

 

[mwalter]

I've tried both Touch Bar models, 13" and 15" with external monitors. I originally had the 13" with 2x LG 4K Ultrafine 21.5" but couldn't squeeze it all onto my desk properly. Performance on the external monitor in 3D wasn't amazing either. I'm now running the 15" with a single LG 4K and it runs great.

The LG 4K is set up as the primary display with an external mouse/keyboard. The 15" sits on a Rain mStand to the left as the secondary display.

This thread is a bit old, but I thought I'd take a stab in case you're still monitoring it.

I'm planning on doing the same with my 2016 15" MBP, 27" LG 5k, and mStand. With your setup is it easy to access the trackpad or touchbar? I feel like it would be a bit of a waste to have paid for the touchbar if I don't use it.

 

[littlepud]

This thread is a bit old, but I thought I'd take a stab in case you're still monitoring it.

I'm planning on doing the same with my 2016 15" MBP, 27" LG 5k, and mStand. With your setup is it easy to access the trackpad or touchbar? I feel like it would be a bit of a waste to have paid for the touchbar if I don't use it.

I had trouble using the touch bar in that configuration. I ended up using the internal keyboard with the laptop directly on my desk, and my 4K monitor behind/above my laptop.

 

[goobot]

Ive been looking for a 21:9 4K curved Thunderbolt 3 monitor but as of yet not found one.

Edit: I've found this, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1279018-REG/lg_38uc99_w_37_5_21_9_wqhd.html/prm/alsVwDtl It uses Usb c rather than thunderbolt 3 but seems to be good enough?

 

[cdcastillo]

I do, when at home I put my 2015 MBP on a stand and connect it to an external monitor, but not with a 27" (I do not have enough space on my desk, also the LG 24 inches is more than enough for me). I use a mighty mouse and a K760 Logitech BT keyboard (light powered, easily switch between my mac, ipad and iphone)

I do not see any noticeable speed/temperature difference, but then again, I neither edit video nor tax my mac that much, given that I mainly (about 95% of the time) just use Scrivener, mail, pages, keynote, numbers, safari, itunes, PDF Pen and Evernote.

 

[skottichan]

I'm currently running a 2013 15" MBP with a Thunderbolt Display and a Cintiq. Once I get around to upgrading, I'm probably going to switch to using one of the new LG displays.

 

[mwalter]

I had trouble using the touch bar in that configuration. I ended up using the internal keyboard with the laptop directly on my desk, and my 4K monitor behind/above my laptop.

Thanks. That's too bad. I can try the same with the 5k if my neck can take the posture.

 

[therealseebs]

I'm toying with the idea of buying either a new MBP with Touch Bar, or the 2015 retina model, and coupling it with an external display (ideally 27") for use in my home office.

Who is doing this? And what results are you getting? (speed, heat, fan noise etc)

I've been running MBPs in clamshell mode for as long as there have been MBPs. Speed's fine, heat and fan noise are slightly worse than when the machine's not closed, but honestly mostly they're just bad because Apple refuses to give enough space for heat vents. One of the really nice things for me about the switch to a non-Mac has been having a quieter and lower-pitched fan when the system's under load.

But it should work fine. I particularly like and recommend the Henge docks, but they don't have one for the 2016 yet.

 

[dyn]

Edit: I've found this, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1279018-REG/lg_38uc99_w_37_5_21_9_wqhd.html/prm/alsVwDtl It uses Usb c rather than thunderbolt 3 but seems to be good enough?

You mean USB. Both USB and Thunderbolt 3 use the USB-C connector/cable (unlike the name suggests this is NOT USB, it is only a connector and cable). In this case it is just a USB3.0 port (with the USB-C connector) so keep in mind that it won't be any different than nearly all of the other USB-C display and docks. Those are mostly USB-only; the LG 5k display is just about the only Thunderbolt 3 model on the planet. USB-only docks/displays can be fine if all you want to do is connect peripherals like keyboard, mouse, tablet (Wacom kind) but not disks or a gigabit ethernet adapter because the connection is going to be too slow (you'll most likely be getting USB2.0 speeds because this is a 4k display). If you really want Thunderbolt 3 display/dock then you'd need to wait for products to be released in 2017. There are some docks coming in Q1.

I've seen a couple of reviews of that LG display and overall people are liking the display so seems like a good one to buy. Just be sure to check out what speeds you can expect from those USB ports. The display will also charge at a max of 60W which is enough for the 13" MBP but a bit on the low side for the 15" one (it'll charge slowly).

 

[x-evil-x]

can you use the macbook with closed lid connected to external display?

 

[dyn]

Yes, it is called clamshell mode and for it to work you do need the notebook to be connected with the power adapter. Search for clamshell mode on, say YouTube, will give you lots of results on the exact details of how to do all this.

 

[therealseebs]

can you use the macbook with closed lid connected to external display?

So far as I know, that's been possible with every laptop Apple's shipped this millennium.

 

[dyn]

I thought it is only as of the Intel switch (10~11 years ago!) that every Apple notebook can do it. Before the Intel switch only the Powerbooks had this feature, the iBooks did not (well not out of the box, it required some hack). It was actually one of the reasons why I wanted a 12" Powerbook G4 instead of an iBook.

Anyway, Apple has an official KB article on this with all the info you need: Use your Mac notebook computer in closed-display mode with an external display.

 

[Guy Clark]

Personally I would go for a refurbished late 2015 27" Retina 5k iMac. Better ventilation, better heat dissipation and works out less expensive. You may have to hunt around for one but for desktop use it is by far the better option. Although on the link below they are out of stock it gives some idea of the cost
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/produ...uad-core-intel-core-i5-with-retina-5k-display