[HOWTO] - Use your Powerbook lid closed

**Giaguara** · #1 September 13th, 2004, 10:46 AM

This seems to be asked quite often, so from kb ..

How to use your Powerbook lid closed.

1. Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your computer.

2. Close the computer's display to put the computer to sleep.

3. Connect the Apple VGA adapter that came with your computer to the VGA port on the external monitor or projector.

4. Connect the other end of the Apple VGA adapter to the video output port on the PowerBook G4 (12-inch) and PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI) computer. (Or relative to other sizes of Powerbooks.)

5. Wait a few seconds and then press any key on the external keyboard to wake the computer.

Should be working now.

Viro · #2 September 13th, 2004, 11:20 AM

Hey, that's really cool. I didn't know it was that simple to do

Thanks.

Convert · #3 September 13th, 2004, 12:11 PM

That's sweet. Still waiting for mine.

quiksan · #4 September 13th, 2004, 03:08 PM

i've done it accidentally before - but never took the time to think about what I did. good catch there.

there's also a utility called Sleepless. (sorry, don't have the link on me, but I'm sure you can find on version tracker or google) the advantage to sleepless is that you can have it turn your notebook display off, while the external runs. other options too.

just caution:
your system will get REALLY hot running with the lid closed, so don't burn it out, or have a cooling system/elevated-airy stand for it to rest on while you do this, if it's for long periods of time.