Use a PowerBook's built-in keyboard and external display
Mar 26, '03 09:27:00AM
Contributed by: elmer-12
I've seen hints (1, 2) for running PowerBooks with the lid closed, but nothing about this, which is better, IMHO.
I have a mouse but not an external keyboard. I wanted to use my external VGA monitor and the built-in keyboard without using the LCD on my 12-inch PowerBook. After some testing, I found a method that works:
- Connect VGA monitor
- Set to mirror mode
- Unplug USB mouse
- Close lid and wait for sleep
- Plug in USB mouse and wait for wake up and the VGA monitor to come on
- Open lid (be careful not to let it bounce and put itself to sleep again).
You should now be able to use the internal keyboard and the USB mouse. The LCD is not turned on and it does not show up in the Displays menu item. The external VGA display has whatever setting you want - I use 1280 x 1024 at 85Hz.
[robg adds: I tested this, and it works as described (the trackpad works, too, obviously). To get the LCD panel back, just hit the "Detect displays" button in the Display prefs and it will activate.]
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Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2003032417263648