Outfitting 13" MacBook Pro to Use at Desk with External Monitor

Hello, I have decided to throw out my 2007 Dell Dimension laptop and go with a 13" MacBook Pro. I would like to use the new laptop both at my desk, connected to an external keyboard and possibly mouse, plus an external monitor, and at times just as a simple laptop outside the office. I heard that you can configure it so that there would be an extended desktop, consisting of the MacBook Pro's screen plus the external monitor.
I am looking to compile a list of hardware accessories I would need to do this and for recommendations about the best hardware to get. (I suppose that the most important piece of hardware would be the monitor itself.) (I am assuming that everything would be plug and play and that no additional software would be necessary)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
many thanks

Steve
Do you really need 2560 x 1600?
Your MBP will deal with up to 1920 x 1200 which is pretty good on an external (say 23" monitor)
So to set up - DVI out to your monitor. Mains power in to the MBP and you can have it screen off while you work away. With no power adapter both screens will be on.
Go to System Prefs / Displays to set up your res and screen layout. You can have mirrored or extended.
Your MBP will get hot and its best left with the lid open for heat to get out. Open the lid once its woken from sleep. Startup will be with screen open. Then put MBP to sleep - close lid - wake up from the keyboard.
Hope thats what you needed!

Similar Messages

MacBook Pro won't stay asleep with external monitor attached. When sleep is selected from the Apple menu the computer will go to sleep only to continually wake up...go back to sleep...wake up...etc. every few seconds.

MacBook Pro won't stay asleep with external monitor attached. When sleep is selected from the Apple menu the computer will go to sleep only to continually wake up...go back to sleep...wake up...etc. every few seconds. This only happens when using the external monitor. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Mine does that too. The worst thing is when it goes to sleep, then wakes up and keeps running while the lid is closed and it is wrapped up in a case. I am afraid when the hot weather comes it is going to burn up. I am hoping Apple fixes it in the software or they may have a melted MBP to replace.
Then when I open the lid it is crashed running at fill tilt, pumping out heat to beat the band. I am forced to hold the button down and reboot.
I wiped my hard disk and reinstalled my OS, but it didn't help. I reversed my OS to 10.5.0 and it solved the DVI problem but still won't sleep. This post will probably be deleted by Apple, they did it a few days ago. I just don't know what to do, and I consider myself a real Apple expert. Just hoping you realize you are not the only one.

Macbook pro(2008 later) can not recognise external monitor(NEC UXI2090) with mini-DP to DVI adapter with 9600GT

I bought mini-DP to DVI frome Apple several monthes ago and it worked well in that time until yesterday the external monitor show me no signal sign. Other PCs were connected with the same cable and monitor and they are fine. I am wondering there is something wrong in the adaptor or macbook pro. Furthermore I found the external monitor can display nornally when I switched to 9400 graphic card and used mini-DP to VGA adapter. If I switch to 9600GT no signal again. If I switch 9400 using mini-DVI, it is shown on the external screening: Out of range... In a word, In the mode of 9600GT, mac can not recognise external monitor(I can not detect it in the systerm preference even I press detect display buttun) and 9400 works in VGA mode. However when I connect adapter to mac, the screen showed blue flash.
I reseted SMC, no use; I created a new account or enter mac to safe mode, no use; so far I did not reseted PRAM beacuse of something wrong of my system. I am downlaoding Mountain Lion OS and will install it. Then I will reset PRAM and try again.
I do not know whether I shoud change the adapter or the single-link DVI cable to dual-link. Someone said it is useful in their condition. I tried some methods from BBS, such as connected when devices were off and then open, and so on. I failed.
Any suggestion for this problem?
Addition: OS: 10.7.4(Lion)

I turns out that the logic board of my MacBook Pro was faulty (despite being brand new).
I took it to the Apple Store, presented the problem, and one of the Tech's came to the same conclusion that I had -- hardware failure. Phone support was no help in the matter (and even told me that what I was trying to do wasn't a supported option, which is rediculous). However, the Genius Bar did take care of the problem, and my MacBook Pro was back to me with a replaced logic board within a few days.
Hope that htis helps.

HT1338 the Macbook Pro would not even detect the external monitor.

My Macbook pro will not connect to an external monitor after moving it. It has been running on this same monitor for 8 months. I switched to a new Desk last night, after hooking it up, the Macbook Pro would not even detect the external monitor. It was only showing the Macs monitor in Display. It did not even have where you could "Detect Display" available. Is there an update that I may have missed. I have tested all the Monitor connections with another laptop they all work.

finally I would like to know if my computer falls under
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377
If nothing displays but you hear normal startup sounds, then it's possible this is a video issue, and you should take it to an Apple store or AASP.

How do I connect a camera to my macbook pro when using the computer with an external monitor in clamshell mode?

How do I connect a camera to the Macbook Pro when using the computer in clamshell mode with an exrternal monitor?

same as it ever was
do it like nothing is different.
be sure to have an external trackpad keyboard or mouse as you will loose them on the computer once it is closed.

Using the GT70 with external monitor and lid closed

I wasn't sure where to post this question.
I have several laptops and use external monitors. I close the lid on the laptops and the display continues to work.
On the GT70, the system shuts down. It won't allow me to use the external keyboard and mouse or display the session.
Any suggestions if there is a configuration option to allow the GT70 to continue to function with external monitor and lid closed.

Yup. This is a windows setting. You need to go into your control panel -> power options -> "Choose when the computer sleeps" and "Choose what closing the lid does"
That should solve the problem. I currently have my GT70 hooked up to a 42" TV and I can close the lid and it stays on and the TV continues displaying as well. No problems. =]

How to get new Macbook Pro Retina (late 2013) to detect external monitor via HDMI?

Hi everyone, this is my first Mac and for the most part it's been really, really wonderful.
This is my first major glitch: I cannot get it to detect my external display: It is an ASUS PA248Q, manufactured Aug 2012.
The HDMI cable according to my Amazon history is at least 1.3c from 2010, "Fanatic Digital Imperial Series Gold-Plated HDMI Cable (6 feet)".
It works with perfectly connecting an AmazonTV box to an old Samsung TV, with vivid clarity, unlike our cableTV signal.
Just in case, I have a new HDMI cable on order, which claims to be of newest standards.
The Macbook Pro Retina (late 2013) has the standard Intel Iris from the Haswell chips, as well as Nvidia GT 750M, the latter which I don't think has been used yet.
The ASUS display says: HDMI NO SIGNAL.
I have tried shutting them down and replugging the cable. I don't know what the ideal order is. The Macbook Pro is plugged into AC power, as suggested.
In System Preferences>Display, I press the Option key to select "Detect Displays" option (seriously unintuitive).
I have also tried resetting the NVRAM:
I shut the machine down. Pressed the power button, then quickly held the quadruplet: Option-Command-P-R (a double handful) and waited for the machine to chime a 2nd time. Tried to detect external display no luck.
Next, I reset the SMC:
I shut the machine down. Then I pressed Shift-Control-Option-Power for about 5 to 10s. Then I turned on the machine normally.
NVRAM & SMC steps were from an old youtube video, as the instructions I had did not explain how to do so clearly.
Please let me know if I"m doing something wrong.
Seems so exorbitant to pay $350 for Apple Care; that's a the cost for a whole new cheap laptop.
I will search the forums again. If anyone answers this, thank so much!

Hello there, willr314.
It sounds like you've covered most of the practical steps found in this Knowledge Base article:
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1573#1
No video or no signal, image distortion, "snow," or flickering
Check connections
When using an external display be sure to check the following:
If you're using an Apple notebook, confirm the AC power cable or adapter is securely connected to the computer and the cable providing power to the display is also secure. It is always good to have your notebook connected to AC power when an external display is in use.
Confirm display adapters are fully seated in their respective connections and that they are supported models and for the computer and display. Refer to these articles to assist you with adapter compatibility and further configuration information:
Monitor and Display Adapter Table
About Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Remove all display cable extenders, KVM switches, or other like devices and retest to determine if the issue is resolved.
Try unplugging the video adapter or cable and then plug it back in.
If more than one video adapter is in use (or "daisy-chained"), troubleshoot by using only one adapter.
Example: A mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter connected to a DVI to HDMI adapter is an unsupported configuration because there is a series of adapters in use.
If available, try using a different display and or adapter (or use a different connector by using DVI instead of VGA, for instance).
Reset the system
You can reset the Mac's parameter RAM and SMC.Reset the resolutionStart by resetting the Mac's parameter RAM. If the display does not come up, was previously set to an unsupported resolution, and still results in no video:
Start up in Safe Mode.
From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
Choose Displays from the View menu to open the preferences pane.
Select any resolution and refresh rate that your display supports.
Restart your computer.
The article does offer some additional links and recommendations as well:
These articles may offer additional assistance and information about displays and video adapters:
Apple Portables: How to use your computer in closed lid mode with an external display
Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) has 1280 x 800 as the maximum available resolution
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported display configurations
For assistance with Retina displays, please see Frequently asked questions about using a Retina display.
If you tried all of these steps for your display and the video issues persist, contact Apple technical support or take your Apple computer to the nearest Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) for diagnosis. If you plan to visit an Apple Retail Store, make a reservation at the Genius Bar using http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ (available in some countries only).
Note: Diagnostic fees may apply for issues not covered under warranty or the AppleCare Protection Plan (APP).
Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Pedro.

Macbook Pro 15 Inch, broken screen to external monitor

I have a 15 inch macbook pro that was stepped on and the screen was broken. I took it to genius and they said it was toast. Great help guys. I took it home and plugged it in from the mini display to HDMI and my desktop appeared on the television screen. Simple as that. Keep in mind this is a 42 inch panasonic TV. But when I plugged it into my vizio television that is in my personal room the desktop was to the left, (regularly you have to drag whatever you want to the right. It's a double screen) and what was appearing on the TV was just a blank desktop which is no help at all.
I need to see my desktop on my vizio television.
So i was reading about the mirror image option under >display >system preferences and I turned that on when I was doing work on the panasonic and now I can't access anything, from either television.
So I need to either
A. find a way to reset system preferences on my Macbook Pro 15 inch with no access to the desktop so I can get it working on at least the Panasonic television again.
Or
B. Find a way to get in up on the Vizio. (prefered.)
Any suggestions.
Thanks so much.

Its a keyboard shortcut to mirror or un mirror screen. Then you can use your mouse and what not. My macbook air fell about 1.5 feet to carpet and thanks to the thin design of the metal parts turned the dam n screen into a knife and sliced the wires for the screen, wifi, Bluetooth, and camera... Well one wire was still attached, the one that powered the screen. So all i had was a white screen. I know its accidental damage and all but to have it fall and break a week after my warranty ran out ***?!?! Apple must employ ninjas!

Macbook Pro to IMac (2009, no thunderbolt) external monitor

Hi
I have just got my new Macbook Pro and wanted to connect it to my IMac to use that as a second display.
I have done a bit of research and it looks as if I need a mini display cable to mini display cable, is this correct?
I am assuming that this can plug into one of the thunderbolt ports on my MBP?
On another note is there anyway I can use the MBP as a second screen to my IMac?
Many thanks

There is no video input port on either machine. The only way to use either as a second monitor for the other is to network them and use something like [ScreenRecycler|http://www.screenrecycler.com/ScreenRecycler.html].

MacBook Pro won't stay awake with external display AND power connected

I've been using my MacBook Pro with an external 23" Apple display for several months, always with the lid closed and with no problems. Suddenly, I can no longer keep the MacBook awake when its lid is closed. *The AC power IS connected.* I plug in the display, close the lid, wake the system with my external keyboard, but then it will quickly go to sleep again after a few seconds. No matter what I've tried I get the same behavior.
Perhaps coincidence, perhaps not, I installed the Leopard graphics update a few weeks ago. Could this be a cause?

Apple did actually acknowledge this as a known issue with people running 10.5.2 with the graphics update, and are investigating it. There's some further discussion at this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1394449&tstart=0
Anyway, what worked for me was powering down, connecting my external display, keyboard, etc., powering up, and immediately closing the lid. It seems to behave better now, though I haven't rebooted since, although I have switched back and forth between running with the external display, and running without it, without any problems.

Macbook pro 13 (i7-2.8), 3 external monitors?

Hello. I want 3 external monitors with my MB Pro late-2011 and i can't figure out how to do that properly. So here is variants:
(First of all, i plan to buy HengeDock + powered USB hub)
1) Matrox triplehead2go. Bad part - only 1024x768 res per monitor. Plus - displayport.
2) 3x Diamond BVU195. USB. Supports FullHD monitors, so i can go with widescreen models. But - DVI. And can one USB 2.0 port hold three monitors? Displayport can have 17Gbps (on all lanes)
Anyone have one of these devices? I really need suggestions.

I don't see any DDR3L on the page for the RAM that would fit your model -> http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_133 3MHz_SDRAM.
But the answer is that it doesn't really matter - just make certain to get 1333MHz.
Good luck,
Clinton
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X 10.??, 16GB Crucial RAM, Crucial M500 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

Can I turn off my MacBook Pro screen when connected to an external monitor?

I have my 13' MacBook Pro connected an external Samsung monitor, is it possible to have the laptop screen turned off so that it is only displayed on the monitor screen?

This is the Mac Pro desktop forum. I requested your post be moved to the MacBook Pro laptop forum.

Using Boot Disk with external monitor?

Does anyone have any idea how to boot from the OSX install disk while using an external monitor?
My powerbook screen and HD are both busted and I can't install the OS on the new HD. I can get to the point where it has booted up and is using the external monitor as a second screen but I can't see what I'm doing! HELP!

Do you have another Mac at your disposal? If you have installed a new HD into the PB and need to put an OS on it, you could put the PB into firewire target mode and attach it as a second drive to another Mac. You can then install an OS onto it.
It might also work that, when you have the PB booted and the external monitor is acting as the second screen, close the lid and put the PB to sleep. Then, wake it up by plugging in a USB mouse or keyboard and the external screen should become the primary screen. You need to have the PB plugged into the AC adapter to perform this trick.

MacBook Pro with external monitor and keyboard.

Hello, everyone.
I've tried to find the answer for this question but haven't found a clear answer with my Google search.
My older Powerbook G4 will not allow me to work with an external monitor and keyboard with the screen in a closed position. I am about to purchase a new MacBook Pro and would like to be able to use it at home with a larger monitor and keyboard but with the lid closed and its built-in screen turned off. Can this be done ?
How can a MacBook Pro be used (turned-on) with external monitor and keyboard while the lid is closed and the its screen is off ?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
Joseph

Hi Niel,
I have the same problem with my MacBook and I followed the instructions you posted. My issue is that when the computer wakes up after clicking the buttons on the keyboard it then quickly goes back to sleep. I can't seem to keep it awake when the lid is closed. I've been searching for an answer without any luck. Any idea how to solve this problem?
Thanks!
P.S. After I finished posting this message I figured out my problem. While fiddling with my computer and monitor, I inadvertently disconnected the power. After reconnecting the power, I was able to wake my computer and keep it awake. A note to other people having this issue: the computer must be connected to a power outlet to run in closed mode.
Message was edited by: qwertyphd

Macbook Pro not able to burn from External DVD drive

Hi there,
I just bought a Samsung SE-208DB external drive for my 2011 Macbook Pro 8,1 13inch and at first the drive was detected by my Macbook Pro and I was able ot burn a disk but now when I plug in the device, it powers on for a bit then powers off to were I can't eject the disk anymore.Then sometimes it works just fine. I am using an external USB hub with AC plug power so I am confident power to the USb isn't an issue. I just wanted to know are Macbook Pro known to have issues with external drives?
And for those wondering why I don't just use the internal DVD on my Macbook Pro, I replaced it with an SSD for dedicated Windows 7 operating system.
Any ideas on how to approached this problem? Should I just get another brand of external DVD drive. I know I can't get Apples as for some strange reason, Apple makes those only compatible with Macs that didn't come with DVD drives like the Macbook Air.
Thanks

Ok I solved it.
The problem is that the drive uses too much power from the usb port.
You can use one of those cables with on one end two usb plugs and on the other end a mini usb. Connect the coresponding usb for power to an iphone charger or any 5v/1amp charger.
Or you can do what I did. I used a usb hub. In one usb port I connected my iphone charger and the drive to another usb port on the hub.
I have just burned my first succesful disc.
Regards

Outfitting 13" MacBook Pro to Use at Desk with External Monitor

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for