How do I set up my MacBookPro so that it uses a monitor?

asuming you dont have an apple monitor this is what you need to do.

1. you need to get a mini display port to AVG adapter from apple. ( you can order it online)

2. turn on your monitor and plug it into the adapter, then plug the adapter into your macbook pro

3. On your mac go to system preferences, open Displays, and then at the bottum right hand corner of the window

click "detect displays" then to windows will open one for your monitor and one for your mac.

4. after that select weather you want your mac screen mirrored or if you want a new scree all together.

Please give more info on the specs of your Mac; it is needed in order to specify the exact connection cable and/or adapter. The age of the computer makes a big difference as to the hardware you need.

You would need an external keyboard and mouse in order to use the computer with the external display while the lid is shut. That way you would be able to manipulate the computer (since you can't access the keyboard and trackpad while the lid is shut). A wired USB keyboard and mouse is a good option and probably the most reliable rather than wireless Bluetooth, (although the Bluetooth would work).

jrich29 wrote:

I cannot find a settiing that allows me to have my laptop shut, and have my monitor not go black and pop up with the mirror of my laptop screen

But isn't that the whole idea? What do you want to happen?

I tried the set up [MacBook Pro 15" Lion] with Mini-Display to HDMI and it did not work with the lid closed. Likewise, Mini-Display to VGA, both situations using wireless Bluetooth Mighty Mouse and Apple keyboard. This is a technique that I used frequently before the unibody Mac laptops, but it appears that it is no longer available.

If you use the secondary display (external monitor) as your primary monitor by draging the title bar over to the other side.

If kennethfromtoronto is right, then you may have to download third-party software that allows you to do so 🙂

This can be done.

Either using:

• 'Clamshell mode': in which the screen stays on, and closing the lid does not effect the external display. (I am not going to explain this mode, as it can result in overheating)
• Temporarily disabling the Internal Screen.

This is done using terminal and it works. I was nervous trying it, but thankfully nothing went wrong.

ENSURE THE EXTERNAL MONITOR IS SELECTED AS PRIMARY DISPLAY!

Open Terminal

To temporarily disable the internal screen in OS X Lion ONLY!

sudo nvram boot-args="iog=0x0"

You’ll need to reboot for changes to take effect, and the internal display will then be completely disabled regardless of whether the Mac is open or closed.

To undo this, you can go back to the Terminal (Using only the external monitor) and enter:

sudo nvram -d boot-args

Then reboot again.

Or To undo this, rather than typing the Command into Terminal:

Just zap PRAM by holding down Command+Option+P+R during reboot, which clears out the boot-args as well. If you were to disconnect the MacBook Pro from an external video source, zapping the PRAM would be how you’d want to reenable the internal display.

Everything worked fine on my Macbok Pro 13" Early 2011.

Make sure you print of the instructions to have the Commands at your hand 🙂

You can use the Smartsleep insomnia plugin to keep your MacBook awake with the lid closed.

samberl wrote:

You can use the Smartsleep insomnia plugin to keep your MacBook awake with the lid closed.

This is Clamshell mode, and can result in overheating.

Not saying it will, but there is a risk 🙂

You can't use your MacBookPro if the hard drive goes to sleep.

As I understand it, the SmartSleep plugin sleeps the MBP display while keeping the hard drive awake.

The MBP should not get any hotter than it would with the display active.

There's been a lot of misinformation here!!!! This is *very* simple to do with a recent MacBook Pro.

• Connect your keyboard and mouse, or pair them if you're using bluetooth devices.
• Connect your external display.
• Ensure that the MBP is connected to the mains - you cannot put it into "clamshell mode" if it is running on battery power!
• Close the lid of the MBP - this puts it to sleep.
• Wake it up by pressing a key on the keyboard or clicking the mouse - this puts the MBP in "clamshell mode" and the external display will display what would have shown on the MBP's screen.

Furthermore the display will be at the native resolution of the external display rather than the native resolution of the MBP's display.

Hey, Inorder to use the macbook pro as a desktop computer the computer needs to be plugged into a power source. Other wise your laptop will go into sleep mode.

Thanks for the advice on plugging in the power source, is it safe to leave the plug in all the time and charging the computer? I was told to unplug when the light turns green. Also, I have followed the instuctions in this thread. The issue I have now is turning on the computer. When I leave at night, I shut down the MacBook Pro, should I ? When I return in the morning, I have to take the computer out of the cradle and open it up in order to push the startup button.