Clamshelling the iBook G4

If you enable clamshell with Screen Spanning Doctor, you can plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Sleep the computer by closing it and then wake it up. The external monitor will wake up and you'll see your screen. Then you can open up your iBook and it will stay asleep. You want to do this step as to prevent the heat from dissipating out of the keyboard onto the screen. All 32MB VRAM will be going to the external display.

I haven't been impressed with Clamshell mode really. It sometimes switches to the wrong resolution, rearranges the desktop, gets "stuck" while you're entering clamshell with just your desktop, etc.

I would much rather just span using the hack to my 17" Samsung LCD @ 1280x1024. Only Exposé and Dashboard are choppy, but they still work quite fine.

Well, Ive got my ibook linked to my Sony display, but I don't actually use the ibook's at all. Ive set it to the spanning mode, but moved my menu bar and dock to the sony. It works well.

The iBook gets hot, but I'm sure it will survive...it will right?!

Maxiseller said:

The iBook gets hot, but I'm sure it will survive...it will right?!

Click to expand...

Mmm- don't bet on it. The iBook is not designed to be used in clamshell mode, otherwise the control panel you hacked would work out the box. The case is designed to dissipate heat up and out the base through the keyboard. If you shut the laptop it will get VERY hot VERY quickly. If at all possible, I would advise you to leave it open when you have it connected to your external display.

Well, I do leave it open.

Maybe my original post was misleading; what I meant to say is that I simply turn down the brightness of my iBook display, fold it about 2/3 of the way down, and use my sony as my main display for the majority of the time. That way the heat can still dissipate through my keyboard but I get to use a nice clear screen to do my work.

I feel that the reason this isn't supported out of the box is more to do with "pro" consumers having no option but buy the powerbook should they want this feature.

What makes the powerbook work in clamshell mode? Is the heat dissipation better as it's aluminium instead of plastic?

Maxiseller said:

What makes the powerbook work in clamshell mode? Is the heat dissipation better as it's aluminium instead of plastic?

Click to expand...

I guess so - PB users used to complain that their cases got very hot and it was actually uncomfortable to use them on their laps for long periods. I don't get that issue with my iBook even after several hours.

MUCKYFINGERS said:

everytime i try to go to system prefs to change the settings of the resolution it crashes

Click to expand...

Yeah, when you click displays it often crashes.

To those who close the iBook and run it in clamshell mode: Why? Why not just open it that way it won't overheat.

I don't have clamshell turned on, just spanning. Spanning works better and has far less bugs.