Q: I have a new MacBook Air without an Eject key. How do I perform the equivalent of CTRL-Shift-Eject to put the screen to sleep?

You may set any key combination for the Finder, look at the attached screenshot, I put there my option, command-L combination , but you may choose any other, just take care to choose something, which does not interfere with other commands.

If it is just about locking the screen you can enable the keychain menu item from the Keychain Access utillity.

Applications -> Utilities -> Keychain Access -> Preferences -> General -> Show keychain status in menu bar.

From that new menu (looks like a lock) in your menubar you can choose 'Lock Screen'.

You might be able to assign a keyboard shortcut to that, but I think I tried and believe that it failed.

I personally use BetterTouchTool (BTT) for this on my MacBook Air.

BTT - > Gestures -> Keyboard - > Add new keyboard shortcut -> [type the shortcut] -> Predefined action -> Sleep Display.

There are probably a lot of other programs that can do the same.

hey guys,

on my european macbook air the eject button is next to the top right corner. its the one on the left of the power button. just hit ctrl+shift+eject and it will go to sleep eventualy locking the system.

This does not work for me, there is no eject key on the current macbook air with either a GB keyboard or a US keyboard, I have both.

I contacted apple support about it and they said there isn't an eject key either.

The workaround I found was to enable hot corners "System Preferences > Mission Control > Hot Corners" and select 'Put Display to Sleep'. Now when you drag your cursor to the bottom corner the display will sleep but the macbook air will still be running.

In "System Preferences > Security & Privacy" check the box that says 'Require password for sleep and screensaver'. I personally have it set to 5 seconds incase I accidently sleep the display by dragging the cursor to the 'hot corner'.

Give this little utility a try.

That one didn't work for me. This one worked flawlessley:

Sleep Display

control+shift+fn+power button

That combo works exactly as I (and the OP) was hoping.

For newer MacBook Air's, control+shift+fn+power button replaces control+shift+eject

Thanks!

For Mountain Lion, you can press Shift + Control + Power key to put the screen to sleep immediatly.

here are several other methods:

http://www.midwesternmac.com/blogs/jeff-geerling/force-sleep-display-2010-2011

I downloaded "Better Touch Tool" so I can make shortcuts with any key combo I choose. Right now, I use Option+Left to sleep the display.

Now THIS did it! Simplest solution. Perfect, thank you so much!

SP Forsythe

Sleep:

Hit the Power button, then the "S" key, in order.

Shutdown:

To do a quick power-off, hit the Power button,the the space-bar (so windows won't re-open), then the Enter key, in ordered succession.