USING MAC BOOK PRO MIRROING THRU APPLE TV

Could my mac book pro mirror on Apple TV like the IPad does. I would like to surf the net in my big TV screen or work on videos. My macbook pro is a 2008 running the 10.7.4 OX. I have done the HDMI CABLES to the TV and works well but not only I dislike to see so many cables,coming from the side of the TV on my nice installed tv on the wall but I also have use audio cables to get sound. I bougt the APPLE TV G2 thinking mirroing was an easy thing. I can play my music and watch anything is in my library, rent netflix but not really work on my computer or use my TV as the screen. am I missing something or APPLE TV was definetely not design to do what I'm trying to do? Any suggestions?