using a larger monitor

I just got a mac book pro and at my office, use a larger monitor (non apple).

Is there a way I can close the lid of the computer completely without everything on the screen going black?

Right now I have the lid open enough so that I can see what's on the larger monitor, but I'm hoping to be able to close the lid completely to save the mac book's screen, since i dont use it while at work.

Thanks in advance!

hmmm *frowns* there should be a work around, using something called insomniaX.

InsomniaX is a program that disables the sleep command triggered by closing the lid, I use it so I can have my music working while I work without the distraction of the computer

you can find it here and it's absolutely free

This should solve your problem

Dave

seems like a good fix but what happens when i unplug my monitor at the end of the day and take my mac home... i'll close the lid but it wont go to sleep.

I would have thought there would be some kind of setting to allow an external monitor and make the mac behave accordingly.

It's not that hard, folks...

1. Plug monitor in
2. Plug mouse/keyboard in
3. Close laptop.
4. Click mouse or tap keyboard to wake computer

doesn't work for me.. when I do that I get a "no video" message on my monitor and tapping or clicking doesn't do a thing until I open the lid back up.

mousie said:

doesn't work for me.. when I do that I get a "no video" message on my monitor and tapping or clicking doesn't do a thing until I open the lid back up.

Click to expand...

Make sure you have checked "allow bluetooth devices to wake this computer" in preferences.

I'm confused... my monitor is not bluetooth?

mousie said:

I'm confused... my monitor is not bluetooth?

Click to expand...

If your keyboard or mouse is bluetooth, you will need to have that checked to ensure your computer will wake from sleep and send the image to the external monitor when you click on the mouse or keyboard.

actually, you can choose to enable or disable insomniaX which will give you control over the sleep function, so you can turn it off when you don't need it

Dave

EDIT:: Please check what you think is a good idea or not before giving neg rep, this is a perfectly acceptable way of subverting the sleep command without any problems. It is infact a great idea.

I think my mouse is bluetooth.. logitech wireless mouse but when I asked the mac to find a bluetooth device it couldnt find it.

where do i find insomnia x?

Aubie16 said:

If your keyboard or mouse is bluetooth, you will need to have that checked to ensure your computer will wake from sleep and send the image to the external monitor when you click on the mouse or keyboard.

Click to expand...

lightsguydave said:

actually, you can choose to enable or disable insomniaX which will give you control over the sleep function, so you can turn it off when you don't need it

Dave

EDIT:: Please check what you think is a good idea or not before giving neg rep, this is a perfectly acceptable way of subverting the sleep command without any problems. It is infact a great idea.

Click to expand...

There should be a link in one of my posts....

well here's another one

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30315

Download and install and insomnia will put a little icon on the menu bar. Using this men you can enable or disable insomnia according to your needs. Enable it when you want to use the mac with the external monitor, and simply turn the brightness of your mac screen all the way down, close your mac and it'll stay running.

Disable it and you mac will sleep just like it normally would

Just don't disable hibernation lol, that's something different

Any other questions you can PM me ^^

Dave