Powerbook/VGA Monitor

Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
I'm wondering if it's possible to plugin my powerbook to a VGA monitor, close the powerbook, stow it somewhere, and use it like a desktop computer, assuming I had a mouse and keyboard plugged into it? I know with my vpr matrix laptop (windows) I'm able to do that. It doesn't go into sleep mode, it just shuts off the monitor ( i think), and acts as just a desktop computer. Everytime i shut my PB it goes into sleep. Anyone know what I'm talkin' about?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    durandaldurandal Posts: 277member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Mordak

    Anyone know what I'm talkin' about?



    Well, I do know what you're talking about, but I'm afraid that it ain't possible to do that with a PowerBook (or iBook), sorry.
  • Reply 2 of 10
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    I think it is possible with a Porwerbook, but you have to be careful with ventilation. You must have at least a USB keyboard plugged in though.
  • Reply 3 of 10
    formerlurkerformerlurker Posts: 2,686member
    I don't think you can do it from sleep, you have to do it from a full shutdown.



    if you boot up the powerbook, with the monitor hooked up and on, and then close the lid as soon as you hear the boot tone, you should be good to go.
  • Reply 4 of 10
    mordakmordak Posts: 168member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Ebby

    I think it is possible with a Porwerbook, but you have to be careful with ventilation. You must have at least a USB keyboard plugged in though.



    Why would I need to be careful wth ventilation?



    Quote:

    Originally posted by FormerLurker

    I don't think you can do it from sleep, you have to do it from a full shutdown.



    if you boot up the powerbook, with the monitor hooked up and on, and then close the lid as soon as you hear the boot tone, you should be good to go.




    So you're saying the computer would be running, and the monitor would be on, but the lid shut, unable to go into sleep mode because of the shuttung of the lid at the boot tone? or would the monitor be off?



    im also wondering is it possible to hookup a monitor to a powerbook and turn off the powerbook LCD, or can you only dim the LCD to 0%?
  • Reply 5 of 10
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    If you lock up your computer without ventilation you laptop can overheat. In fact, the laptop runs a little hotter with the screen closed.
  • Reply 6 of 10
    mordakmordak Posts: 168member
    There are vents on the top? Speakers vent?
  • Reply 7 of 10
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    The speakers are not vents since the speaker covers all the holes and blocks airflow. Also with the lid closed it covers the speakers. The vents are on the sides and back of the computer. Heat is also dispersed through the bottom of the laptop which acts like a giant heatsink. Think of the laptop as a small engine; in needs new air to run so it is a good idea to add small fan to draw in new air and expel warm air from the laptop.



    Sounds like you have a setup in mund. Care to give any dimentions or details?
  • Reply 8 of 10
    formerlurkerformerlurker Posts: 2,686member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Mordak

    So you're saying the computer would be running, and the monitor would be on, but the lid shut, unable to go into sleep mode because of the shuttung of the lid at the boot tone? or would the monitor be off?



    im also wondering is it possible to hookup a monitor to a powerbook and turn off the powerbook LCD, or can you only dim the LCD to 0%?




    The lid is closed but the powerbook is still running. It will still be able to sleep, by selecting the Sleep command under the Apple menu, and you can wake it back up by hitting a key on your USB keyboard.



    Also as mentioned, you might be able to do it without rebooting, if you sleep the PowerBook, hook up the monitor and USB keyboard, and use the USB keyboard to wake from sleep with the lid still closed.
  • Reply 9 of 10
    noleli2noleli2 Posts: 129member
    Here's my experience with that:

    You can plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to a PowerBook, close the lid, and when you press any button on the keyboard it will wake up with the external monitor as the primary display. Works just fine. If I recall, according to my PB's manual (Ti 800, which I did indeed skim through the day I got it) it said that for ventilation reasons you should not run two displays at once (ie the LCD and an external) with the lid less than 90° because the GPU generates a lot of heat when it's doing double-duty. It also gave specific instructions on how to do exactly what you're talking about, and what I described. I don't recall it saying anything about heat issues in that particular case, but it was about 1.75 years ago that I read it.
  • Reply 10 of 10
    mordakmordak Posts: 168member
    Hmm... maybe I need to go over my manual again. A buddy of mine with a 1st gen 12" PB G4 also said that he is having this same problem--not able to do this.
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