Screen Mirror mode

RoleyBirkin · 25 Jun 2008 at 16:22

I've had a good search for a thread which I can't now find, which answered my question.

In it, a member said that you could use an external monitor in mirror mode that became the 'main' screen, so that the MBP screen was blank.

Is this right, if so, how is it done?

JUMPURS · 25 Jun 2008 at 16:30

In mac help type in video mirroring and you will get answers about using multiple displays.
According to it

To set up multiple displays to show the same image:

Connect the displays to your computer.
Open System Preferences and click Displays.
Set both displays to the same resolution and color depth.
Click Arrangement and select Mirror Displays.

RoleyBirkin · 25 Jun 2008 at 16:41

Yeah, I've done this no problem.

But what I thought you could do, is disable the MBP screen, so the external tft becomes the default screen?

JUMPURS · 25 Jun 2008 at 16:42

close the lid?

RoleyBirkin · 25 Jun 2008 at 16:52

I think you're right

Think what the previous thread referred to, was: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1308?locale=en_GB

I must have misunderstood. I thought you could disable the screen with the lid up or something.

rp2000 · 25 Jun 2008 at 17:41

JUMPURS said:
close the lid?

No, you close the lid and all macbooks/pro sleep by default. I gave away my mac mini today which was normally hooked up to HDTV, thinking plug in my MBP and I got the same solution. Sadly even with the external display connected both screens will turn off (I tested this already with a TFT connected via DVI).

THE CRAZY THING IS THIS IS BY DESIGN. No wonder businesses are reluctant to use something that can't even do laptop presentations to an external monitor by default!!!

Anyway, like I say annoying but there is info on Apple's site on how to do it "their" way, which tbh is quite fiddly by the sounds of it.

Seeing as I sort of gave away the Mini (which I used for Front Row on the HDTV) I will have to try out this unintuitive crappy method:

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

rp2000

Edit 1: Same link as you posted!!

Edit 2: This article implies that you can use the Front Row remote to wake external display:http://www.j4mie.org/2006/06/21/macbook-can-work-in-lid-closed-mode-without-a-mouse-and-keyboard/

OllyM · 25 Jun 2008 at 21:52

What's the problem?

To use an external monitor on it's own you put it to sleep by closing the lid, then wake it up by pressing a key on an external keyboard/mouse.

It's easy?

VaderDSL · 25 Jun 2008 at 22:09

In the arrangement section of the display options have you dragged the representation of the dock onto the external display? would that help?

ringo747 · 25 Jun 2008 at 22:35

turn the brightness right down until it appears to be 'off'

PardonTheWait · 26 Jun 2008 at 00:07

rp2000 said:
Anyway, like I say annoying but there is info on Apple's site on how to do it "their" way, which tbh is quite fiddly by the sounds of it.

How's it fiddly?

Plug it in, just like you would with any laptop.

Shut the lid.

Click your mouse!

JUMPURS · 26 Jun 2008 at 06:11

rp2000 said:
No, you close the lid and all macbooks/pro sleep by default. I gave away my mac mini today which was normally hooked up to HDTV, thinking plug in my MBP and I got the same solution. Sadly even with the external display connected both screens will turn off (I tested this already with a TFT connected via DVI).

THE CRAZY THING IS THIS IS BY DESIGN. No wonder businesses are reluctant to use something that can't even do laptop presentations to an external monitor by default!!!

Anyway, like I say annoying but there is info on Apple's site on how to do it "their" way, which tbh is quite fiddly by the sounds of it.

Seeing as I sort of gave away the Mini (which I used for Front Row on the HDTV) I will have to try out this unintuitive crappy method:

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

rp2000

Edit 1: Same link as you posted!!

Edit 2: This article implies that you can use the Front Row remote to wake external display:http://www.j4mie.org/2006/06/21/macbook-can-work-in-lid-closed-mode-without-a-mouse-and-keyboard/

I know what happens when you close the lid, but if you have a keyboard plugged in you can use the mac in closed lid mode, i do in quite a lot.

hyper_piper45 · 26 Jun 2008 at 08:08

JUMPURS said:
I know what happens when you close the lid, but if you have a keyboard plugged in you can use the mac in closed lid mode, i do in quite a lot.

Yep i always run in clamshell mode

RoleyBirkin · 26 Jun 2008 at 09:27

OllyM said:
What's the problem?
To use an external monitor on it's own you put it to sleep by closing the lid, then wake it up by pressing a key on an external keyboard/mouse.
It's easy?

I know. But I want to use the laptop keyboard, not external

ringo747 said:
turn the brightness right down until it appears to be 'off'

This seems the best compromise, cheers.