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Janmansilver · Jun 1, 2005, 06:34 AM

I use my PowerBook as a stationary computer connected to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. I would then like to "spare" the PowerBook screen by turning it completely off without closing the lid. I don't want to close the lid as the computer overheats to quickly - the point is to "spare" the computer not save space.

I've tried to turn down the brightness of the screen, and this does in fact turn off the backlight lamp, but the LCD-panel itself is still left on! How can I turn it off completely?

Randman · Jun 1, 2005, 06:38 AM

Use Energy Saver and set the monitor to sleep after a few minutes while keeping the computer running (turn off any screensaver as well).

Janmansilver · Jun 1, 2005, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

Use Energy Saver and set the monitor to sleep after a few minutes while keeping the computer running (turn off any screensaver as well).

But I still want to use my computer - the display will not sleep (turn off) unless the computer is inactive? Another issue is that both displays will turn off?

drprat · Jun 1, 2005, 09:16 AM

I've been trying to figure this one out as well since I use my pb to watch movies on my tv... I've just been setting the brightness to 0... This doesn't completely turn off the screen, but it at least turns of the backlight (correct me if I'm wrong), so it reduces battery drain and lamp wear...

millysecond · Jun 1, 2005, 10:15 AM

I'd just keep the lid closed -- the powerbook was designed to be operated this way (with an external monitor/kb/mouse attached). You'll also keep dust and debris off of the screen.

iREZ · Jun 1, 2005, 10:55 AM

why not close it...get the external screen going...then open your powerbook?

notalent · Jun 1, 2005, 03:19 PM

This may be of some help:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88064

Cheetah223 · Jun 1, 2005, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by iREZ

why not close it...get the external screen going...then open your powerbook?

This is what I was going to say, close the powerbook to put it to sleep, wake it up with an external screen, then reopen the powerbook and the screen should stay off.

nuggetman · Jun 2, 2005, 08:13 AM

1) the LCD was designed to be used, not turned off. why not just use a dual monitor setup?
2) the clamshell mode is a feature of the powerbook. as such, it is designed to also operate in clamshell mode without overheating.

Xanadu · Jun 3, 2005, 12:56 AM

I wanted to do this exact same thing a few months ago, and found there IS a way to do it, although a bit clumsy- still it doesn't matter if you are using an external mouse/keyboard. Basically the powerbook senses whether the display is closed, not through a physical switch, but through a magnet (and I guess magnet sensor). The magnet sensor is located just under the right cursor arrow button, so all you have to do to 'trick' the powerbook into thinking its display is closed is to put a small magnet (I use an alphabetic fridge magnet cos its weak) just under the right cursor arrow.
Hope this helps!
Joe

iREZ · Jun 3, 2005, 12:32 PM

this thread still going???? are the new powerbooks any different than the one i got? what's all this talk about magnets and such?

Xanadu · Jun 3, 2005, 01:34 PM

Cant remember where I first saw it- on some other mac discussion site I think, but a quick search turned this up... http://home.earthlink.net/~mrob/pub/ibook.html
Reading this it seems that the sensor is in a different place on all the powerbooks/ibooks, so I guess you'll have to experiment a bit if you have got one which isn't listed on this site...
all the best

Cheetah223 · Jun 3, 2005, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by Cheetah223

This is what I was going to say, close the powerbook to put it to sleep, wake it up with an external screen, then reopen the powerbook and the screen should stay off.

If that didn't make any sense, close the powerbook, putting it to sleep. Hook up your external display. Hook up an external mouse or keyboard, press a button on the keyboard if you need to to wake the machine up. It will wake to the external display, then you're free to open the powerbook and the native display won't turn on...Why mess with magnets?!

iREZ · Jun 4, 2005, 12:53 AM

exactly!!!! just like my post above!!!!

Xanadu · Jun 4, 2005, 02:33 AM

because as soon as you turn your computer off, or send it to sleep, you have to go through the whole rigmorale of closing the display and opening it again when waking it up or turning it on again. This may not be a problem if you leave your computer on 24/7, but I let my powerbook sleep quite a lot, so its handy not to keep having to close and open it all the time- especially since this will put undue wear on the hinges. If you're wondering "why not just leave the computer in dual monitor setup?". Well if you do this, the graphics card is split across 2 monitors and if you have the 12" like my with the crappy nvidia 5200 then its a bit of a problem if you're doing graphics intensive work.