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jeff k · May 5, 2011, 05:24 PM

I've had the white 13: laptop for 3 years. I use it occasionally as a laptop, but now am thinking of also using it as a 2nd desktop/ workstation in another part of the house.

I got the converter to go to the Viewsonic 22", and a seperate keyboard and mouse.

My main desktop, the 27", I leave on all day and sleep from midnight to 5am.

Could/ should I do this also with the laptop?

Would the screen be ok?

Any other suggestions?

I like the quick availability of being able to type anything anytime without worrying about lifting a case and turning on.....

Veltliner · May 6, 2011, 02:22 AM

Why would you use an old computer that's weak compared to the 27".

To punish yourself?

If you don't need a laptop, sell it, and buy RAM or something else for your main computer.

Waragainstsleep · May 6, 2011, 03:56 AM

Sounds like you'd be better off with an iPad or iPhone.

Big Mac · May 6, 2011, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by Veltliner

Why would you use an old computer that's weak compared to the 27".

To punish yourself?

If you don't need a laptop, sell it, and buy RAM or something else for your main computer.

Maybe he just wants an extra desktop station, not to replace his iMac but supplement it.

jeff k · May 6, 2011, 01:38 PM

Exactly, Big Mac is correct.

I need the laptop and I'm not replacing the desktop.

"I just want an extra desktop station, not to replace his iMac but supplement it."

amazing · May 6, 2011, 02:23 PM

To answer the original question, just sleep the laptop. You touch the power key, a shutdown dialog comes up, you touch the 's' key to sleep it. (there's other key combinations as well, this is simply easy.)

To wake it up, touch the space bar. Voilà, instantly available.

jeff k · May 6, 2011, 03:33 PM

A:
the laptop is behind the monitor and keyboard. Which keyboard am I touching?
Is the laptop opened or closed?
I prefer, of course, going through the dedicated keyboard.

amazing · May 7, 2011, 10:49 AM

the spacebar and s-key should work on either keyboard. if the external keyboard has a power button, that should work as well.

On the external keyboard, command-option-eject will put the laptop to sleep.

jeff k · May 11, 2011, 06:57 PM

Quick question guys, the Viewsonic -- they provided a cord, that is DVI, I think that the name, has a lot of pins.
The sales guy at Apple store mentioned that it may be missing the middle pins and "could" result in loss of quality.
Anyone know much about that issue?

AKcrab · May 11, 2011, 07:13 PM

I think that just means it's not "Dual link DVI". I don't think it will matter one bit to you.

jeff k · May 11, 2011, 07:35 PM

AK
thanks, you know what he is referring to? This cable, the male part not having all the pins.

Waragainstsleep · May 11, 2011, 07:48 PM

Some monitors don't have the full rows of pins on their DVI connectors. I've never noticed any drop in quality over the fully populated ones.

Waragainstsleep · May 11, 2011, 07:50 PM

Its single link.

Digital Visual Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look at the pic.

jeff k · May 11, 2011, 10:26 PM

thanks guys, yeah, my cord is like the one shown, missing the pins in middle. I don't know why the Apple tech then brought it up as an issue. crazy huh.

Waragainstsleep · May 12, 2011, 03:13 AM

It was either ignorance or salesmanship. Or both.