How do I tell Lion to disable the LCD screen even when the lid is open?

Very true, never really thought of that.

I don;t think it is asking too much really.

I did it.

there's an app for our problem. it is called SwitchresX.

I've managed to disable macbooks screen with lid open.

try it for free 10 days http://www.madrau.com/download/latest/latest.html

Wait a minute, how are you switching it off??? i have it installed but cannot find an option to disable the display???

Please share! 😀

Problem solved!

Download SwitchResX, Go to preference panes, open the app.

Then enable the daemon in the app and then simply use the icon in the menu bar to disable the display!

One caveat.

It does not turn the display off.

All your system resources are devoted to the external display - i.e. the mac does not 'see' the laptops display however it simply makes the screen 'black' but it is still switches on. Turn off the backlight and it is as good as off.

However I do wonder whether you could damage the display by having a load of black pixels constantly stuck on it?

Message was edited by: hamer313 Worked out the display wasn't off but it wasn't recognised by the mac either so system resources were the same as if the screen was off.

I am also having this issue. =/

I want to be able to open my Macbook Pro up so it doesn't overheat without having the internal monitor going. Come on Apple.

I don't wish to install a 3rd party app to do this, I feel it is likely a bug.

Yes, I've tried it. It works but leaves the display turned on. I guess it will do for now (until the demo expires).

Apple, please fix this. It's almost embarassing...

SwitchResX is excellent! Thanks for that. I can now have my external display as the main display, and use my laptop as an additional one. Something that Apple should have enabled a long time ago!

Apple needs to get its act together with this. Otherwise LION is great so far....

oops spoke too soon, when you seet the external monitor as the main display the dock still stays on the laptop, oh well back to your original idea of using SwitchResX to "disable" the laptop one.....while apple sorts this out!

If you go to the display properties, and then choose the arrangements tab. You can then move the little white bar from one screen to the other, this moves your main app including dock and menu bar.

Ah I see what my problem was, I have the dock on the right hand side of the window, so when the laptop is on the right of the external display, the dock obviously stays on the right hand side of the laptop!! My mistake! Sorry Apple!!

At least I'm back using the wifi properly when using the external display. Only got the wifi in clamshell mode problem to get fixed now....

I agree that we should not need to resort to third party apps in order for clamshell mode on an MBP running Lion to continue operating in the way that it should do (and did under Snow Leopard). It's imperative that I be able to use an external display for an MBP that's running with its lid open and own display off.

As tjk suggested, I have submitted a bug report accordingly and would encourage others who want this issue to be fixed to do the same here. This is a slightly deeper link that takes you straight to the feedback form for OS X-specific issues:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

I think it is bug too. I don't wish to install a 3rd party app. I want button for switch off and switch on my display on MBP. Thx Apple

Yes, please, submit a bug report. Apple makes no promise to respond to these forums but they are committed to responding to bug reports in order of priority. Priority is partially set by volume so go report the bug.

It sounds like users have come to rely on a previous "bug" where clamshell mode was not dismissed when the lid was opened. It may have been a "procedure" to you but it doesn't really sound intentional from a user interface perspective. It is not at all uncommon for bugs to become features so let Apple know what you think, don't just whine about it, compare Lion to Windows or threaten to return to SL. Of course you can do that, you have every right. Its just not going to be as effective as a bug report. 🙂

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html