Can macbookpro be used with the lid closed while using multiple external monitors

I want to use macbook pro with external monitors and be able to close the lid on the laptop, but can't figure out how to make that works with multiple monitors. I currently use two external monitors with the laptop monitor as my third. All are independent monitors and I accomplish this using the matrox diamond bvu-195 product (one for each external monitor). Now I would like to add a third external monitor and be able to close the laptop lid - kind of like you would do with a docking station for a Windows laptop. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to accomplish this?

Connecting your present two external displays via USB has left your MBP's Mini-DisplayPort available for a third. Depending on the monitor's available inputs, buy a mini-Displayport-to-VGA, MDP-to-DVI, or MDP-to-HDMI adapter and the appropriate cable to make the connection. I would expect that adding a third monitor to your GPU's workload might cause your already slow USB-connected monitors to slow down farther, but you'll have to see whether that's true and, if so, how tolerable it is in your work.
As for what will happen when you close the built-in display, I suspect that what happens if you do that now will continue to happen if you do it with a third monitor connected. If you can now close the display and run the machine in closed-clamshell mode, I expect you'll still be able to do so after adding the third external screen.

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Using MBP with with the lid closed

I have done some searching for tips on using the MBP with the lid closed and there is some conflicting information. I'm hoping people who use their Apple laptops in this way can help clarify a few things.
First, as I understand it, the MBP will operate with the lid closed if there is a connected power cord, mouse, keyboard, and external display. I plan to use mine with a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard. (More details from Apple can be found here.)
These are my questions:
1) I've heard people issue warnings about laptops overheating when running closed, but it seems Apple endorses using the MBP this way. Is heat really a problem, or are people just spreading misconceptions by predicting an early demise for a laptop used in this way?
2) Can the MBP be turned on/off when closed, or only put to sleep? I want to keep my MBP on a shelf that makes it inconvenient to open every time I want to shut down or power up. I suspect putting it to sleep will be good enough, but if I can shut down and power up without opening the lid, that would be preferable.
3) I've read that the MBP can be glitchy when waking from sleep in the closed-lid configuration. According to some people it sometimes won't wake up and requires at restart. Am I fooling myself into thinking sleep can replace shutting down?
Thanks.

1) As long as you don't place anything between the keyboard and screen, you should be fine. There have been worries about display damage due to heat rising up from the keyboard, but no substantiated reports of real damage occuring.
2) You can obviously turn the MBP off while closed by choosing Apple > Shut Down; powering back on requires pressing the power button. Another option would be enabling the Wake on LAN feature in Energy Saver preferences.
3) AFAIK, the problems are with deep sleep and occur regardless of whether the lid is closed or not. I've not had any problems waking my MBP from sleep, but I always shut it down for the night.

Mac book pro is very very slow/it hangs for even the smallest tasks/even with the lid closed it is still running if it is not completely turned off. Dose any one know what may be wrong ? and how to fix it?

More details about the problem : My computer is a Mid 2012 Mac Book pro 2.9GHz i7 processor with 8GB RAM updated to OS X v10.8.5
- I ran a compleet scan of my computer for any threats ( I used virus barrier express ) and there was nothing identified
- When I oppened the Activiti Monitor there are about 20-30 processes which I do not undersatand they are run under the user "root" 2 in perticular ( Kernel_task & fseventsd ) they both take up a lot of threads and kernel_task is constantly using 1.2 GB of "real memory" which is at least 20 times any other process that is running espesially the ones that run under the user "Apple" I do not know if this is causing the problems on my mac but i tryed to forces close it and it dose not even let me click the button, the others close but reopean immideatly. I will attach a screen shot of what i have mentioned here.
- The problems I am facing are mainly performance :- To state a few examples, my mac dose not seam to be able to handile even the smallest tasks like switching tabs on safari, typing any thing, playing a movie withought stopping inbetween, etc.. ( let me elaborate on why I said its not able to handil these tasks, it is because when I am trying to do any one of the afformentioned tasks inbetween the cursor becomes a rainbow collered spinning disk and I am unable to do anything for about 10 seckonds after which it starts to work again for some time before it happens again. )
- Another concern of mine is that my mac seems to be on even with the lid closed if I do not shut it down compleetly, if i just close the lid after some time the computer starts warming up, and the fan starts running. the battery is drained at the same rate or slightly less rate than it would have if i was using it normally with the lid opean. ( altough this is happning the screen dose not turn on untill the lid is opean again )
- I have only 300+ GB full out of my 750GB so i believe these are not issues caused by my mac's memory being full ( BUT THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS WAS HAPPNING WAS WHEN MY MEMORY WAS ABOUT 720GB FULL WHEN THESE ISSUES FIRST AROSE I IMMEADITLY DELEATED 400+GB OF MY USELESS FILES THAT I HAD BEEN HORDING ALL OF WHICH WERE MOVIES ) that about covers it all PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO.
Ps: I apoligize if I have given too many unrelevant details, not enough usefull information and or if i was just all over the place with my explanations but I am really frustrated and was hoping not to miss anyting. Please let me know if any information at all is required and ill do my best to provide it.
Thank You

Start with this comprehensive troubleshooting article:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3521
Look at this one for possible solutions:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3353
Ciao.

HT3131 With the lid closed in clamshell mode, the lid covers the fans - won't it overheat?

With the lid closed in clamshell mode, the lid covers the fans - won't it overheat?

This is useful but the MBA gets a bit hotter due to intake, but if you have the lid open + external screen it gets even hotter due to more for the GPU (processor) to do.
Only way I’ve manage to run only external screen with the lid open is to trick the MBA that the lid is closed with a magnet positioned on the left.
I’d really like a software solution to this though…

Turn on by itself with the lid closed

I have a Lenovo v100 0763 laptop and I have this problem:
When I close my laptop lid, it goes to standby mode (I don't activate the hibernation mode) but it only lasts for 20-30 minutes when I can hear the (humming) sound of the machine starting again even with the lid closed.
When I open the lid, it shows the login page directly like it has always been on (left standby with the lid on)
I had this problem around a year ago, and then I brought the laptop to a service (along with many other faulties - like the screen) and they fixed them (it was under guarantee back then) but now the problem suddenly came back around a week ago and this applies for both condition when it's plugged onto electricity or when it's under battery power only.
My setting for the power is Lenovo Standard
                                  Power                      Battery
Close the screen:                       after 25 mins             after 5 mins
Shutdown the harddisk:              after 30 mins            after 5 mins
System standby    after 25 mins    after 5 mins
Does anybody know why my laptop behaves like this? Because sometimes I left my instant messenger on (It automatically went off when I closed the lid) but it went right online again when the laptop was turned on by itself.
Thanks in advance
Eva

Sorry, but I cannot find it the one that you meant.
Is it the boot from network setup? Because there's no such thing as Power Management Setup in the boot menu. It's just bunch of options on from where to boot and since my laptop is turned on from standby by itself, does it have anything to do with booting?

Can you play music with the laptop closed?

Is there a way play music with the Laptop closed? I have a MacBook Pro w/Retina display.

You'll either need to have a keyboard and monitor attached so you can wake the computer with the screen closed or use one of the third-party utilities that keeps the MBP from sleeping when you close the lid such as InsomniaX.
Regards.

Satellite 'Won't Wake' Up With the Lid Closed

This may not be a Toshiba problem per se since it has been reported for other brands as well.
I want to run backups overnight. This requires my backup programs to 'wake' the computer from sleep. This works perfectly well for my desktop. It does not work for my laptop if the lid is down: the laptop does not wake, so backups do not run
Some details:
Model L955-S5370, Windows 8, UEFI
Power settings for a closed lid, whether on-battery or off battery, are: Sleep (not hibernate)
Makes no difference whether the power options are to sleep or not to sleep when the lid closes; in neither case does the computer wake up.
When the laptop is set to not sleep when the lid is closed, the laptop eventually goes to sleep in accordance with my general sleep settings ('sleep after 30 minutes')
The same issue has been reported in the user forums for other brands, and in those instances the problem was neither obvious or easy to diagnose. The problem seems to be in the interface between the lid closing mechanism and the operating system. Dell says they'll include a resolution in a BIOS update.
Can Toshiba help with this?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

No, you're not dense. Lacking in appreciation of subtle humor, perhaps.
"Allow wake timers" was disabled. When I changed the setting to "Enabled" my backup ran. So I am .
That said, I have read in other OEM forums that running scheduled tasks with the lid down can be a problem. Something to with the interface between the lid (hardware) and the operating system. Apparently, I don't have that problem.

Using a keyboard and cinema display with the lid closed on the laptop...

I have connected my MacBook Pro to my Apple cinema display, but what do I need to do in order to be able to close the lid on the laptop, but still work with the computer. Also, do I need a docking station?
Thanks to anyone patient enough to reply with help!

I think the Trick is to connect your Laptop to the Cinema Display. Then connect a keyboard to your ACD, then set your Laptop to go to sleep by closing it - next wake the laptop by using the Keyboard attached to the ACD.

Frustrated! Can't I use an external monitor?

I plugged in the adapter to my 17" LCD. My screen background appears on my LCD but that's it. No icons, no nothing, just the pic of my son. I changed my background settings on my Powerbook and nothing happened on the LCD. It just stays the same. The entire LCD is just a picture with no mouse, no icons - nothing. What am I doing wrong? Also, I thought on the Powerbooks, you can close the lid but the external monitor stays alive. On mine, it goes off when the lid is closed. Please help. Thanks

P.,
In yr System Preferences, there is a 'detect displays' function in Displays. You shd find what you need there by clicking on it & then 'arrangement.' In order to have windows or items on the 2nd display (external) you need to drag them there.
Here's the closed-lid tip: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86286
Hope this is helpful.
—Z.

My MacBook Air keeps shutting down and restarting - even with the lid closed.

My MacBook Air keeps asking to confirm shutdown and if I don't respond within 5 secs in shuts and restarts - constantly. Gap between restrats is never more than afew minutes. Running OS X.6.8. Software up to date. Any ideas?

The 2010 MBP has had a problem with GPU/LB
See the link:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4088
This was taken care of by extending the AppleCare from date of purchase, if you are past this date check in to this
http://nwsinglespeed.hubpages.com/hub/Do-You-Know-About-Apples-Flat-Rate-Repair- Pricing
As you are not yet out of "supported" status
Go to a Geniu sbar and have this cheched, make an appointment first
http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

Can iMac be used as external monitor for old Mac Mini?

I just bought a used Mac Mini PPC 1.4GHZ, 1GB Ram, 80GB HD. It will be shipped to my parents out of state but until then I need to configure it at home. Can I connect it to my iMac 20"?
In other words, is there any way to turn off the direct connect of the iMac's internal workings to the screen and have the screen used temporarily by a different computer?

Although you can "remote control" any Mac from your iMac20" through a network connection (using Screen Sharing in Leopard, or free VNC software in earlier OSX releases), you will need a real monitor to do the initial set up of the Mini - including the steps necessary to activate screen sharing.
The only iMac that had any video input ability was the original CRT Bondi blue iMac from many years ago. Your iMac has video output, but no video input.

My MACbook is connected to my iMAC using thunderbolt. How can I use my wireless keyboard with my MACBook with the lid OPEN?

It might work with the lid closed but I want to use the both screens. I try to detect the keyboard and the track pac on my Macbook pro but nothing is detected except my iMAC.

The easiest way is to copy the iTunes folder from your old PC to your MB (put it in the Music folder as a subfolder), along with the other valuable data on the old PC. Or restore it from a backup of your old PC. Then authorize iTunes on the MB to the same account you had on the PC. When you sync it will warn you that your content will be deleted, but it will be replaced with the same content from the MB. Before syncing you should also make sure there is at least one entry in iCal and Address book on the MB (assuming you sync to Outlook or equivalent on the PC) to assure that your contacts and calendar entries will move over correctly.
Al alternative that is less effective is to connect the iPhone to the MB without syncing, and choose "Transfer Purchases" from the iTunes File menu. This willl copy purchases music, videos and apps, but not ripped tracks from the iPhone to the MB.

Sleeping with the lid open

This is so basic, I am embarrassed to post, but here goes. I have a MacBook that sleeps just fine with the lid closed. Light pulses, spin up noise when I open the lid. Recently I have noticed that when I leave the lid open, the screen goes black in the appointed time (from setting in System Preferences), but the little light on the front does not pulse nor do I get the spin-up sound when I move the mouse, etc.
Now for the embarrassing part -- has it always worked this way, or is this something new? I feel sure that previously I could leave the lid open and after the appropriate time, the light would pulse, etc. But not now.
I have reset the PMU several times, checked the sleep preferences, made sure that there was nothing running, no bluetooth activity, etc. But no joy. I called Apple, and the tech there (who quite frankly was hard to understand, but I think I did understand him enough) told me that the behavior I am experiencing is correct. What I want to know is whether the MB sleeps with its lid open and no pulsing light (just on steady). Is my machine sleeping or not?
Thanks in advance!

Thanks for your replies! I have checked my settings repeatedly -- currently (for testing purposes) set for the screen to sleep after 2 minutes, the hard drive to sleep after 2 minutes, hard drive to sleep when possible, etc. Bluetooth is not the problem, set to not wake for bluetooth activity, as is the "wake for ethernet". I have even restarted the computer, left it at the login page, and the behavior remains (no pulsing, no spin-up sound). Now that I think about it, when I close the lid for sleep, the light pulses, but no spin-up sound. Hmmm, should I be worried?
Just seems to me that with my G4 PowerBook and this MB earlier, that with the lid open the light would pulse, and just a while ago started not pulsing. Seems about the time I did a software update, but can't be sure. This issue is somewhat important to me because I use WireTap Pro to schedule recording of a couple of radio shows, and need to leave the lid open so WTP can "wake" it to record.

Match invoice with the finally closed PO

Dear All
i am using version 11.5.10. i have a problem. i accidently Finally Closed a PO without matching a invoice. Is it possible that i can match an invoice with the Finally closed PO?
Regards

Not posssible to match against a finally closed PO. Just incase if you are able to do so, it would be a bug .
Regards

Running With the Lid Down

Hi...
I would like to run maintenance applications at night and do screen sharing with my macbook pro - but I would like to have the lid down on my laptop while doing these various functions...
Is it possible? What would be my settings?
Comments, suggestions and opinions are welcome
Thank you in advance...

You can only run it with the lid down if you connect an external monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Then, put it to sleep and wake it up from the external keyboard.

Can macbookpro be used with the lid closed while using multiple external monitors

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