To use a MBP with an external monitor/keyboard & Mouse....

After weighing all my options, the Macbook Pro seems to be the best option for me. Yet, I am in an unknown territory with macs and their setups and there was no Apple person at Best Buy when I was looking at it today. So...

My Question is:

If I wanted to hook up an external monitor and keyboard and mouse to the MBP (15") to use in my office sort of like a desktop, How many cables/hookups are required?

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Being a PC user, I know I need a hook up for the monitor (1), a hookup for the mouse (2), and a hookup for the keyboard (3). However, it seems that the MBP only has 2 USB slots so I wouldn't be able to hook up a printer.

Am I missing something?

Also, can the MBP be closed when using it docked?

Blue Velvet said:

Mouse plugs into keyboard

Click to expand...

Ah ha! That is what I was missing! I wonder why they don't use that for PC's?

Ok, so after you hit any key on the keyboard, do you have to adjust the resolution settings or does it automatically detect them?

Say, I have a 24" monitor.

Blue Velvet said:

It automatically detects it and what's more, it will set a different desktop pattern for that display from the laptop display if you choose one for it, and it will remember it as well if you ever take the MBP on a trip and reconnect it later.

Click to expand...

Wow, that is great. I don't know what took me so long to switch over...