Turning off the screen on my iBook

mac_man_luke · #1 08-12-2004, 07:29 AM

I have a G4 iBook and i am wondering if there is any way to turn the screen off, i dont mind leaving the lid open but want to use and external display and keyboard.

Hope you know what i mean

**Chris** · #2 08-12-2004, 07:54 AM

"Clamshell mode" is supposedly a PowerBook-only feature, but try this anyway on your iBook:

1. Shut off the computer
2. Plug in your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and whatever else you need
3. Press the power button on the iBook and immediately close the lid - you can open it up after the Mac boots so it doesn't overheat

mac_man_luke · #3 08-12-2004, 05:07 PM

Is it possible to leave the lid open with out the screen on?
I heard that the ibook cools through the keyboard

**Chris** · #4 08-12-2004, 06:22 PM

Yes, as I said in step 3 above, you can open the lid again after the Mac boots so it doesn't overheat. (On a PowerBook anyway. I think I might have been able to do this with my iBook too though.)

mac_man_luke · #5 08-13-2004, 01:50 AM

thanks... im going to try now

mac_man_luke · #6 08-13-2004, 02:13 AM

I tried it and it keeps on going to sleep - like every 30 sec and also if i lift the screen it turns back on

mac_man_luke · #7 08-13-2004, 02:14 AM

Does it damage LCDs to leave them on all the time? i can turn the back light off by decreasing the brightness

**Chris** · #8 08-13-2004, 09:32 AM

I guess this mode doesn't work on iBooks then. The other nice feature of clamshell mode is that since the built in display is off, all of your VRAM (and not half) goes toward the external display.

I don't think the LCD would be damaged by being left on, but it probably decreases its life span. Burn-in can occur on LCDs, so make sure you are running a screen saver if you're going to have it on 24/7.