Laptop and External Monitor Connectivity

[Liam]

My new work have an unlimited budget and have basically told me I can get any computer I want.

Because I'll have my iMac at home and I will be travelling from office to office I was thinking of getting a Macbook Pro and an external monitor but have a few questions regarding them.

1. Would I be able to hook the macbook pro and an external monitor up together and run dual monitors?
2. Would I be able to hook the macbook pro to the external monitor and use the external monitor screeen only and the mackbook pro as the actual system?
3. Would I be able to do both of the above but use an external keyboard and mouse instead of the laptop keyboard and finger pad?

Any help appreciated.

Liam

 

[technologist]

Yes.

I wish they were all that easy....

 

[snoslicer8]

Well, if we NEED to have a little expanded discussion in here, I guess we can...

When you hook up the external monitor and keyboard/mouse to use the MBP just as the system, you'll need to boot up as normal, connect the peripherals, close the lid (letting the computer go to sleep), then use the external keyboard/mouse to wake the computer back up.

 

[adler]

Can't you just do a ... Fn and F7 or w/e the screen key is? That should work should it not? With projectors it's the way to put it on both screens, or either or ...so i'm guessing it's the same.

 

[snoslicer8]

Can't you just do a ... Fn and F7 or w/e the screen key is? That should work should it not? With projectors it's the way to put it on both screens, or either or ...so i'm guessing it's the same.

You can do this, but this requires that the screen of the notebook stay open...I was merely suggesting the other method so he could keep the MacBook Pro closed and safe from harm.

 

[fleurya]

you'll need to boot up as normal, connect the peripherals, close the lid (letting the computer go to sleep), then use the external keyboard/mouse to wake the computer back up.

Actually, I use my MBP this way with the Apple bluetooth keyboard and mighty mouse and monitor connected, and all I do is hit the power button and close the lid immediately. Works just fine and no need to wait, put to sleep, then wake up again.

 

[jauhari]

You can do this, but this requires that the screen of the notebook stay open...I was merely suggesting the other method so he could keep the MacBook Pro closed and safe from harm.

If you want keep you MacBook Pro Cool try to Installing smcFunControl
Small App and Perfect for MacBook/MacBook Pro