please help: re connecting macbook to monitor

[budge9]

Sorry if this sounds like a very stupid question but I was just wondering if I could and what I would need to buy and to do to connect my macbook to an lcd monitor. Would I also need to get a keyboard in order to use the macbook by looking at the lcd screen? Thanks for helping- I'm still trying to get used to using a mac.

 

[fistful]

Sorry if this sounds like a very stupid question but I was just wondering if I could and what I would need to buy and to do to connect my macbook to an lcd monitor. Would I also need to get a keyboard in order to use the macbook by looking at the lcd screen? Thanks for helping- I'm still trying to get used to using a mac.

Depends on the connection you plan to use be it VGA or DVI. You'll either need to buy a mini-DVI to VGA or mini-DVI to DVI cable from Apple. If your monitor has DVI that's the connection you'll want to use.

The only time you'll need an external keyboard with this type of setup is if you plan on using the MacBook in clamshell mode.

 

[theman]

it is annoying though to be looking at your LCD screen and then having to go over to the side to type on the MBP, unless you mount the lcd above your MBP. I am going to get a new external keyboard and mouse for my setup.

 

[TheStu]

it is annoying though to be looking at your LCD screen and then having to go over to the side to type on the MBP, unless you mount the lcd above your MBP. I am going to get a new external keyboard and mouse for my setup.

Why not just use the MBP screen as the primary screen, and the external as the secondary screen? That is what I usually do when I am hooked up to an external, even ones with stupid large resolutions.

 

[Wolfpup]

Well, normally an external screen is going to be a lot larger than a Macbook Pro's screen. I'm going to be using my MBP most of the time hooked to an external display as the primary monitor.

 

[illicium]

Settings for Closed MBP on external monitor

Depends on the connection you plan to use be it VGA or DVI. You'll either need to buy a mini-DVI to VGA or mini-DVI to DVI cable from Apple. If your monitor has DVI that's the connection you'll want to use.

The only time you'll need an external keyboard with this type of setup is if you plan on using the MacBook in clamshell mode.

HOW DO I SET UP MY MBP TO RUN THE EXTERNAL MONITOR WITH THE MBP CLOSED? I HAVE THE BT KEYBOARD AND MOUSE.

 

[Wolfpup]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86286

This probably covers it, but personally I wouldn't do that unless you have to. You can damage the screen on a notebook like that (plus it's really nice having the internal screen as a second screen).

 

[illicium]

hmmm

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86286

This probably covers it, but personally I wouldn't do that unless you have to. You can damage the screen on a notebook like that (plus it's really nice having the internal screen as a second screen).

THANKS, but does doing this leave the internal monitor off? or turn it on while it is closed? If it leaves it on I can see that damaging it. What I am wanting it to be able to close it and use my BT keyboard and mouse as if this were a desktop machine with just the one external monitor on.

 

[Wolfpup]

It should turn it off, but with ANY notebook you're going to be venting heat right into the screen. It's not something I'd want to do on any regular basis.