How do I use my macbook in "clamshell mode" with an external monitor?

The apple website says to close the macbook and then wake it up with a mouse or keyboard. I'm using a mac keyboard, and a Logitech bluetooth mouse. Neither seem to wake the computer up. I've already gone to system preferences and checked the "allow blue tooth devices to wake the computer up" box.

I'm guessing you would have to set the macbook not to go to sleep with the screen down. I think it only wakes up if the screen is poened as well. I may be mistaken though, I haven't fooled around with this aspect of Macs in any grave detail.

The Apple web site is correct. I use an external keyboard and mouse - both wired, and have no problem whatsoever operating in clam shell mode. Sometimes if a blue tooth device is not "paired" properly it will not work to bring the MacBook out of sleep. See this article which is mostly talking about a blue tooth phone but the idea is the same.

http://apcmag.com/mac_101_how_to_pair_your_bluetooth_device.htm

Also do a search at the Apple knowledge base site.

http://www.apple.com/support/

Regards.

I believe that the computer also has to be plugged in when doing this...

Good point! You can't operate in clamshell mode when on battery. I know, I tried it - by accident. It took me awhile to figure it out.

Regards.

Or you can use something like InsomniaX (read the disclaimers).