Using external monitor with macbook pro?

Can someone tell me how to get my Dell desktop monitor to work with my MBPro? I connected with usb/vga cable; i have a pic on the external monitor and the mouse pointer will move about the screen, but that's it; no funcitonality. I don't know what do do next? Settings?

It sounds like it's working perfectly, you have a functioning image and pointer. But you may be expecting to see some of your windows. It sounds like the monitor is connected in Extended Desktop mode, which means it's working as an additional area to your existing desktop, like sliding another table next to yours. So, if you want to see some windows and programs over on the new monitor, you should drag them there. Also, open your Displays system preference to see this and change settings.
If you expected to see the same image on both your monitors, you need to switch to Mirrored display. If there is a Displays icon on your menu bar, you can switch it there.

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Can I use Front Row on external monitor with MacBook Pro's cover closed?

I've seen that you can use the remote to control Front Row even when the lapatop's cover is closed (on a MacBook Air). Is it possible with a first generation MB Pro? Are there special settings?
Thx

You can use a MacBook Pro in "clamshell" mode if you have the AC adapter plugged in for power, an external display attached and an external keyboard and mouse (USB or Bluetooth) to wake the computer after it's been closed. This is the official word from Apple:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131
However, even if you don't have a keyboard and mouse, you should still be able to wake the MacBook Pro using the Apple remote by pressing the "menu" button. (You do still need to have the power plugged in and the display plugged in.)
-Doug

HT2494 Using a webcam on an external monitor with macbook pro?

I have a macbook pro connected to a dell external monitor. I was wondering if it were possible to use my monitors webcam instead of having to use the one built in on my macbook pro?

bigred1622 wrote: ... possible to use my monitors webcam ...?
Yes it's possible if the monitors webcam is Mac OS X compatible. If you do not have access to the system compatibility documentation for your monitor, Dell or the people who sold you the monitor should be able to tell you.
Message was edited by: EZ Jim
Mac OSX 10.8.3

External monitor with MacBook Pro

I have a new Macbook Pro and have it hooked up to an external monitor and an USB Apple keyboard in my home office. How am I able to power the laptop on without opening the display and have it display only on my external display? When I am at home I'd like to use my external monitor and not my Macbook display.

Having the computer with the lid closed is dangerous cause even when just browsing the web with flash content it starts heating up and I've heard about casess of melted displays. Besides, the wifi strength is reduced and you can't use the keyboard and the trackpad.
So, for Lion users, it's possible to just use the external display with the lid open:
1. In Mission Control Preferences activate one Hot Corner to put the display to sleep.
2. Connect the external monitor and plug in the power source to your computer.
3. Move the mouse to the Hot Corner to put the display to sleep.
4. Close the lid and wait a few seconds.
5. Open the lid and voila!
Take care!

Using Multiple Monitors with MacBook Pro

Hello,
Is there a way to connect 6 additional monitors to my MacBook Pro?

Hi there,
I was wondering if you could help me out. I am trying to run 2 x 1900x1200 external displays (DELL ultrasharps 24") using my MBP. I have the Triplehead2go DP edition (just released in Q3 '09). I've downloaded the latest driver from the Matrox website, and I have the Matrox miniDP to DP adapter. I am using the DP male to male cables which came with the DELL monitors. Everything I have read has suggested that this set up is possible and supported by MAtrox. The trouble is every time I plug in the DP cable into the computer - MacOSX crashes (and hard!!! not even resolving when the cable is removed). I would very interested if anyone has successfully used the TH2G DP edition with the MBP (unibody) for this setup. Apple seems to think that the problem is with the device, not the software. MAtrox tells me they can't reproduce the problem and that I should have the device replaced (which I am arranging). Do you have any ideas/suggestions. I would appreciate your help.
Cheers,
Frustrated!
Sandeep

Using external mouse with Macbook Pro

Hi,
I'm using an external Dell USB keyboard and mouse with my Macbook Pro. They work ok, but there seems to be a bit of 'drag' when I use the mouse. It's difficult to describe, but when I move the mouse slowly the pointer seems to drag, or slip...it's not matching the movement I'm making with the actual mouse. It's not so bad when I make bigger or faster movements, just when I'm using it slowly or precisely.
It's very distracting, and is even making my wrists ache.
Any idea how I can stop this happening - do I need to find a driver to fix the issue?
Thanks for reading.

Are you using an external monitor? The 24" LED Cinema Display?
I saw a post in one of the other forums where several people were having this issue -- they all had external monitors attached, and mostly all 24" LED Apple Displays. The type and make of the mouse seemed to have no relevance, and the issues seem to impact the trackpad as well. It is hard to describe the "feel" and "lagging" effect of this problem.
Nearly all people in the post had the monitor and laptop power adapter plugged into the same outlet/powerstrip. After moving one of the cords to a different outlet, this seemed to solve the problem for nearly everyone. Odd, I know.
I'm gonna try it and I'll keep you posted.

How do I get full resolution on external monitor with MacBook Pro

Hi,
I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro:
https://support.apple.com/kb/sp620?locale=en_QA
And it states I can run an external monitor at 2650x1600. I have bought a BenQ BL2710 which goes to 2650x1440:
http://www.benq.com/product/monitor/bl2710pt/
I can only get 1080p - the OS (Mavericks) does not have any option to go higher. I have tried connecting MiniDisplayPort to DVI via an adaptor, and I have tried MDP to HDMI using an adapter. Have I missed something?
Thanks,
Nick

Figured out I need MPD to DP has HDMI has a max res of 1080p.

Trouble using external iSight with MacBook Pro (which has built in camera)

Hey Jim,
Have a question for you. I have a new MacBook Pro 17". I also have a 23" Cinema Display, and a left over Firewire external iSight camera (which I used to love).
Frequently I "dock" my MBP with my 23". I either use the dual-screen between the two, or I close the lid on the MBP, let it go to sleep, then wake it back up with a BT keyboard or mouse, letting it go to a single-screen mode on only the 23" Cinema Display.
So, I'm trying to use my external Firewire iSight with my MBP, and I'm getting mixed results -- the best of which is where I am getting some video with regular, occasional freezes with the picture being split (like a v-hold problem on an old TV). After a pause it goes back to smooth video.
I guess primarily, I'm wanting to know what the world of two iSights (FW and built-in) look like, and can they work together? I cannot for the life of me get this FW iSight to work consistently, but I know it works perfectly in another G5 tower (which has no built-in camera).
Any suggestions or guidance?

Hello Exivus
... two iSights (FW and built-in) ... can they work together?
You can have two iSights connected at one time, but, as explained in Apple's iSight "Your camera is in use by another application" message, iSight can be used by only one application at a time. (my emphasis)
Different apps select between multiple connected cameras in different ways. For instance, iChat > Preferences... > Video settings can select which camera to use with the iChat app, but iMovie 6 uses a drop-down menu as shown in this picture:
The suggestions in How to Troubleshoot iSight should help you determine whether one of your iSights is causing trouble. I suggest you test each one separately and without your external display or other peripherals to rule out possible conflicts.
After you are certain that your iSights are working individually, test them when both are connected. After your system successfully passes these tests, you can add your external devices back one-by-one to be sure one of them is not causing the problem.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1) External iSight

Using External iSight with MacBook Pro / iMac.

Posted in both forums.
Internal iSight is great, but the external iSight offers so much more flexability, and been able to position the camera where you want it is much better than tilting the screen and moving the computer.
So can you use external camera's with the MacBook Pro's and iMac's?
*nathan

Great! Thats awesome.
Have you tried it? If so, does the Mac automaticlly switch to the external iSight, or do you get an option to choose between internal and external.
Thanks,
*nathan

Using external iSight with MacBook Pro crashes iChat

I use my Macbook Pro in clamshell mode with an external display. I bought an external iSight so that I could use iChat AV. I have the appropriate adapter to convert the Firewire 400 cable to Firewire 800 which is compatible with my '09 MBP 17" (2.8GHz).
Every time I connect the iSight, iChat will launch, and then will crash (SPWoD). I can not recover unless I disconnect the iSight, at which point iChat is able to fully launch.
I tired changing both iChat and Photobooth to 32-bit mode (hint from another thread), but that did not help.
As a test, I connected the iSight to an iMac with both FW400 and FW800 and the iSight works perfectly with either connection. iChat AV then allows me to then select which camera I want to use in its preferences.
Both my Macbook Pro and the iMac are on OS X 10.6.2. iChat crashes regardless of if I am using the MacBook Pro in clamshell mode or not.
TIA.

bryanus wrote:
Sorry, I answered with my iPod tough. I guess it didn't translate the way I wanted it to.
Here are my answers ...
Thanks for that info, bryanus
Between this info and your latest response to Ralph, there are so many possibilities that I cannot yet identify the source of your problem. More troubleshooting is needed to identify the cause so we know what to fix.
Your used iSight may be causing the problem. Because it is easiest to troubleshoot, I suggest you test the external iSight next. The following will either eliminate your external iSight as the cause of your problem or let you know whether it will require professional service.
If the testing I suggest below shows that the problem is related to iChat ONLY, stop the testing I suggest and follow Ralph's expert suggestions for troubleshooting and correcting iChat.
Don't worry about the "clamshell mode" issues at this time. Until you get your external iSight working reliably with your MBP, keep the external display disconnected.
Additionally, to eliminate possible network problems as a contributor to your problem, when testing (internet) connected apps like iChat, use the same ethernet connection when you test both Macs. Even use the same ethernet cable (no wireless) connection to all Macs.
Also, to test problems with launching iChat, _disconnect both Macs from the network_ to see if iChat will launch properly with a connected external iSight but no internet or network connection.
You have already done some excellent testing, but you can use the additional suggestions from the following link (including other subject links on that page) to test the remaining user-correctable possibilities:
http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html
Pay particular attention to *possible conflicts*, testing with more than one cable and/or adapter, and testing the external iSight on more than one Mac. If possible, it would be also good to use your same cable and FW Adapter to test your MBP's function with a different and known-good external iSight. If you have no other access to a working external iSight, your local Apple-Authorized Service Provider may be have one that he can use to check your MBP connection.
If your external iSight can connect reliably to other Macs, or if a different, known-working, external iSight also gives trouble on your MBP, the problem must be either in your MBP's physical Firewire connection port or in the software on your MBP.
Unless you find a fix while trying the above, we can offer suggestions for the particular problem(s) you identify based on your troubleshooting, so give as much detail as you can about your findings when you post back.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.2) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

Using External Drives with MacBook Pro - General - Freezing

I keep my music on an external drive and also have a drive hooked up for Time Machine. My macbook pro frequently crashes... especially when I first open the computer. I then have to reboot. In general, what are the best type of drives and best type of connections to use when there will always be two external drives hooked to this machine. Would increasing RAM help? I have 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 2 gigs of RAM.

I keep my music on an external drive and also have a drive hooked up for Time Machine. My macbook pro frequently crashes... especially when I first open the computer. I then have to reboot. In general, what are the best type of drives and best type of connections to use when there will always be two external drives hooked to this machine. Would increasing RAM help? I have 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 2 gigs of RAM.

Trouble using external iSight with MacBook Pro

So I bought a macbook pro and 23inch external display, decided to go on ebay and get an isight camera, found one brand new in the box....the problem Im having now is it will not work for audio, video works just fine but no audio, I have set up the proper resources but no dice, is this an issue or is it the isight?

Hello Russell Wittmann
So external iSight can give both audio and video if the application you are using to operate the iSight supports both functions. Many applications have preferences or menu items that can effect iSight operation, so check your settings.
Connect your iSight directly to your Mac and use the suggestions in How to test your (external) iSight to ensure it is functional. If you continue to have problems, the suggestions on that page will help you troubleshoot to find the source of your problem and fix anything that is user-correctable.
There are no user-serviceable parts in iSight, so if everything you can do fails, your iSight will need professional service unless you can exchange it for one that works. If the external iSight you bought on eBay is not covered by warranty from either Apple or the seller, see your local Apple Service Provider for service.
If your iSight needs parts that you or your Service Technician cannot locate, http://www.synaptech.com may be able to help you obtain those that are still available.
If your iSight needs service but you do not have access to an Apple Service Provider, see Apple's iSight Service: Frequently Asked Questions to request service directly from Apple.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.2) External iSight

Two external monitors with macbook pro

attempting to use my MBP in clamshell mode with two external monitors. Only thing I get is the same screen on both monitors. I am also using VM Fusion running a windows xp interface.
Tried just mac software...same problem. Won't set up as two seperate monitors.
HELP

My understanding is that a "splitter" simply shares the same output signal between two monitors, causing both to display the same image at all times. That's exactly what you're seeing, right? So I think it's because you're using a splitter, instead of a device or devices that enable the monitors to receive different signals. Unless the manufacturer or vendor of your splitter can assure you otherwise and help you get your setup running the way you want it to, a better alternative would be to connect one monitor to your computer's video-out port, and the other to a USB port using an adapter like this:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/VIDU2DVIA/
Note that the monitor connected via USB won't be as responsive as the one connected to the video-out port.
A more expensive option that would enable both monitors to be equally responsive is the Matrox DualHead2Go. If you have a MBP with a Mini-Displayport or Thunderbolt port, you would need the DP Edition of the DH2Go.

Cannot use external Display with MacBook Pro 13

i bought new mac pro 13 , i bought new macbook pro 13 & tried to connect to external Samsung screen (Sync Master SA300) but failed ihave VGA adapter & VGA cable
please can any body help me with detailed steps how i can solve this problem

Intermittent static on external monitor with MacBook Pro

I have a MBP (mid-2009) and added an Acer external monitor last year. When I plug the monitor in or the computer wakes for sleep I often get this intermittent static; the monitor alternates between displaying correctly and displaying static. The period between static can change...one time when I plugin the external monitor it can be 20 seconds and the next time I plug it in it might be 2 seconds between static and regular display.
I can't imagine I'm the only one that has this issue. I've searched endlessly but haven't found anyone else with the same specific problem. Hopefully there's a solution.
Something that's extra quirky is that I run any number of programs on a daily basis including stock brokerage application(Java based), browsers, programming applications, etc. but none of them triggers this behavior EXCEPT iTunes. Not sure if that helps but maybe it does.
Any help is greatly appreciated. I figured I've wasted an hour or more of my life plugging and unplugging the monitor cable trying to get it to run without the static so it was time to ask for help!
Here's a link to a video...I figured this would make it easy to understand the issue. http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=11al7yv%3E&s=8#.U3bfpFhdVK4

Hello dscher,
The article linked below provides some useful troubleshooting steps that you may find helpful.
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1573
Cheers,
Allen

Using external monitor with macbook pro?

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