How to use external display only without closing MBP?

[Philflow]

Powering up or down when on battery

I only power up and down when I'm on A/C. When the system is off power is removed.

so yes that will lead to ~3 % drain (haven't measured it yet) per day which will lead to unnecessary cycles.

Besides that, I don't like the flashing light. And when I power off my system I want it to be completely off.

Ps. it's funny how people keep questioning my motives and habits....

Does anyone know how I can disable the display using SwitchresX?

 

[snaky69]

I only power up and down when I'm on A/C. When the system is off power is removed.

I did try to answer your question, but you selectively quoted me. Sorry for being not much more help, then.

I was going to mention always been on A/C not being a good idea, but you probably wouldn't care. Have a good day.

 

[suedehead]

i hate to say, but it's probably me (i know) ... it's weird how far some people are willing to stretch to gain 3% on battery discharge, but closing an opening the lid is too much. it's not my place to judge, but i def scratch my head when i read stuff like that.

also, being nice never hurt anyone...

 

[snaky69]

Does anyone know how I can disable the display using SwitchresX?

You could e-mail the makers and ask them if their program can do this?

 

[Philflow]

If you guys can't understand why I would want to completely power off my system then just take it as a personal preference. It's something I would like, I prefer to do it. This thread was to find out if it's possible.

I was going to mention always been on A/C not being a good idea, but you probably wouldn't care.

Thanks, I am aware. What's even worse is constantly draining the battery to 95% and then charging it to 100%

You could e-mail the makers and ask them if their program can do this?

Yes if no one will be able to tell me here I will email them.

also, being nice never hurt anyone...

yeah lost my patience for being nice. if you look at how many posts tried to question my preferences instead of answering my question you probably understand.

 

[Timur]

You can turn down the backlight (or turn it off like that mentioned software seems to do), but that would still leave the GPU working for that screen. According to iStats menu there is a 3 watts difference between just turning the backlight of and turning the screen off completely (clamshell close + wake with mouse).

Another annoyance: Even if you would like to turn down the backlight via f-keys you have to do it with the internal keyboard. In contrast to bootcamped Windows you cannot use the external Apple BT keyboard to do that.

"You're holding it wrong!"

 

[Merkyworks]

not that its any of my business to tell you how to use your laptop but im pretty sure there is a way to make sleep but all the memory to just the hard drive and not the RAM and hard drive. this would stop the 3% of battery usage and should not take as long boot up once the lid is opened.

 

[kasakka]

If you guys can't understand why I would want to completely power off my system then just take it as a personal preference. It's something I would like, I prefer to do it. This thread was to find out if it's possible.

If I remember correctly, the SwitchResX disable option doesn't actually turn off the display, but simply turns the brightness on it all the way down or something. I might be wrong so give it a try, but I doubt it is the solution.

The thing is that your preference is simply stupid. You could save yourself all this trouble simply by using a modern feature called the sleep mode. Batteries will wear one way or the other and as others have stated, you're not saving them by turning your computer on and off constantly.

Surely you can understand the value of these benefits of the sleep mode:
- Near instant startup
- Startup using the keyboard or mouse
- No need to open the lid
- Your computer just as you left it before, with the right windows and programs there for you to get using right away

As for a flashing light. If I remember correctly it flashes a few times at fist but then dies.

 

[Philflow]

The thing is that your preference is simply stupid

Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's stupid

I'll explain some more. Sometimes I need to leave the house and don't come back for one or two days. If I would do this with the sleep option, I would come back to an empty battery. Then I would have to recharge it again before I can take it out of the house. Not an option for me.

In addition, having less cycles is good for resale value, I've experienced in the past.

Then there's the issue that frequent discharging to 95% and then topping up to 100% is not good practice for notebook batteries. To counter this effect one would have to make deeper cycles, which would lead to even more battery cycles.

I've got a feeling you're going to try to question my motives again I kindly request you not to, and let me have my preferences. I know my preferences and they come from a valid background, even though you might not understand it.

PS. What I think is "stupid" is that a $199 netbook can do this and my $1200 MBP can't.

 

[GermanyChris]

Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's stupid

I'll explain some more. Sometimes I need to leave the house and don't come back for one or two days. If I would do this with the sleep option, I would come back to an empty battery. Then I would have to recharge it again before I can take it out of the house. Not an option for me.

In addition, having less cycles is good for resale value, I've experienced in the past.

Then there's the issue that frequent discharging to 95% and then topping up to 100% is not good practice for notebook batteries. To counter this effect one would have to make deeper cycles, which would lead to even more battery cycles.

I've got a feeling you're going to try to question my motives again I kindly request you not to, and let me have my preferences. I know my preferences and they come from a valid background, even though you might not understand it.

PS. What I think is "stupid" is that a $199 netbook can do this and my $1200 MBP can't.

I left my computer sleep for a 4 day long weekend while away from home and had 80% charge. I think the reason you can't do this is better power management in the Mac they don't see a need for you to do what your doing. The fixed it by having a really long/deep sleep function. My netbooks and older presario f700 if left to sleep will be dead by the end of the work day. Anyway my vote is for clamshell then open..

Chris

 

[gngan]

Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's stupid

I'll explain some more. Sometimes I need to leave the house and don't come back for one or two days. If I would do this with the sleep option, I would come back to an empty battery. Then I would have to recharge it again before I can take it out of the house. Not an option for me.

In addition, having less cycles is good for resale value, I've experienced in the past.

Then there's the issue that frequent discharging to 95% and then topping up to 100% is not good practice for notebook batteries. To counter this effect one would have to make deeper cycles, which would lead to even more battery cycles.

I've got a feeling you're going to try to question my motives again I kindly request you not to, and let me have my preferences. I know my preferences and they come from a valid background, even though you might not understand it.

PS. What I think is "stupid" is that a $199 netbook can do this and my $1200 MBP can't.

If you were to leave your computer and not use it for 4 days then turn it off. But when you have to turn on your computer 20+ times a day then use sleep mode.

 

[vahabemami]

Got the answer

Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's stupid

I'll explain some more. Sometimes I need to leave the house and don't come back for one or two days. If I would do this with the sleep option, I would come back to an empty battery. Then I would have to recharge it again before I can take it out of the house. Not an option for me.

In addition, having less cycles is good for resale value, I've experienced in the past.

Then there's the issue that frequent discharging to 95% and then topping up to 100% is not good practice for notebook batteries. To counter this effect one would have to make deeper cycles, which would lead to even more battery cycles.

I've got a feeling you're going to try to question my motives again I kindly request you not to, and let me have my preferences. I know my preferences and they come from a valid background, even though you might not understand it.

PS. What I think is "stupid" is that a $199 netbook can do this and my $1200 MBP can't.

I don't know why people do not answer the topic instead of talking about your preferences !!!!!
I finally found a way to go to clamshell mode without closing the led of my MBP
my mac is the 15 inch mid 2010 model , there is a magnet sensor which detects when you close your MBP monitor, you can use a magnet on your sensor instead of closing the led, I found it in the left side of my keyboard behind the FN key.
I just bout a paper magnet and I just put it on the surface of my mac behind the fn key. that's it. it works

 

[M-B-P]

Solution

For anyone still looking for a solution, check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNyh4hc5O8 .It's just like vahabemami said.

 

[Mechinyun]

Does anyone know where the magnet is on a rMBP 15 inch?

 

[pedrofan]

I use the magnet on a retina macbook pro. So far so good.

 

[kimovski]

I use the magnet on a retina macbook pro. So far so good.

Where did you put the magnet?

 

[pedrofan]

Where did you put the magnet?

On the left edge, one inch below the headphones jack.

 

[Max Zhuravlev]

I want to use my external display only and I don't want to close the MBP.

Is this possible?

Just to be clear: I don't want to close the lid of the MBP and I don't want to use both displays.

1. Cmd + F1 (switch on one display mode - laptop display will turn into mirror of external display)
2. F1 (until you turn off laptop display)