MBA Air + External Monitor Help

Yes, it is safe, do-able, and lots of people do it.

People say it does run hotter though, even just for normal work, as they keyboard is a key way for the laptop to lose heat!

notor1oustg said:

So it doesn't damage the screen when the lids closed?

Click to expand...

I have read no reports of that. But who knows!

Oli3000 said:

Yes, it is safe, do-able, and lots of people do it.

People say it does run hotter though, even just for normal work, as they keyboard is a key way for the laptop to lose heat!

Click to expand...

I do it all the time.

The keyboard is not the only way that MacBooks dissipate heat. I don't think that is its secondary function either. There is vent at the back-bottom, near the black strip.

When the MacBook is open, the heat comes out of that vent and the opening between the keyboard and the screen.

Apple even has a support article that gives instructions on how to use MacBooks in this way. They call it "clamshell mode" - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131

My guess about the increased temperature is that the GPU is working harder to drive a larger monitor, but that's normal.

Don't worry about it.

Oli3000 said:

Yes, it is safe, do-able, and lots of people do it.

People say it does run hotter though, even just for normal work, as they keyboard is a key way for the laptop to lose heat!

Click to expand...

Heat dissipated through the keyboard will be small compared to the vents. Forced vs natural convection.