[emil]

OK, so I have a powerbook with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and I am looking to get an external display. I wanted to get the 23" ACD, but after shopping around I discovered that they have tube problems that cause that reddish/pinkish hue. I'm looking into a Dell possibly now, but my question is this:

If I want the display to be plugged in with the lid closed, so that the only display is the external one... how do I wake the system should I decide to sleep it?

[emil]

Hmm, I got that to work -- but now my follow-up question -- does anyone know if there is a way to go from normal (no external monitor) to external monitor with the lid closed WITHOUT sleeping the machine?

[ibook_steve]

The machine can only detect a display connect when it is awake, so the answer to your question is no. You have to attach the monitor, close the lid so it sleeps, then push a key on your keyboard to wake up the machine and enable the external display.

Steve

[Ruahrc]

I'm a little confused as to what functionality you are asking about?

It would seem as if you want have your PB closed, and plug in the external monitor- and have it auto-detect and use? Except you want to do it without sleeping- so presumably your PB is closed AND awake, and you want the display to detect? How do you accomplish this?

I thought that if the PB was not sleeping- then the displays would auto detect just fine. I have plugged in an external display to my PB while open and running, and it auto detects every time. I don't have an external KB+mouse so i can't test lid-closed operations. (silly question) Is your external display on or off when you plug it in?

PS TV's won't autodetect, I need to manually detect them.

Ruahrc

[bovie]

I use my 12inch powerbook all the time in lid closed.

I plug everything in,
Monitor
Power
speakers
I use apple's bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

Turn it on and close the screen right away.

Compuer boots up and works great.