MacBook Pro - Lid Closed - Wireless Mulitmedia Keyboard

[verbose]

Hello,

It's apparent that with my MBP connected to my 50" PDP, with lid closed, the computer just goes to sleep -- so I need an external keyboard and mouse. However, since I have them in my living room, I'd prefer wireless. The one wireless keyboard Apple makes is a basic keyboard, without mouse function. I don't want to get a separate mouse, because I want to use the thing in my lap for a variety of computer tasks. There seem to be a couple of Pc options, but there is no wireless Apple multimedia keyboards (with an integrated pointer of some kind) that I can find. This seems very strange to me with the deployment of Front Row and Apple Remote across three model lines now. This is a big hole in Apple's line-up to me -- if they want to go for the living room, they should provide a lap-friendly input solution.

Anyway, is there anything out there that you guys have found is workable? Anyone try the Adesso 2.4GHz laptop keyboard? Granted it's for a PC, but there doesn't seem to be an Apple solution out there.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...7134-7547946?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=172282

Thanks in advance.

 

[DougTheImpaler]

I don't know about this combo specifically, but I do want to urge caution. Non-Apple wireless keyboards may not wake your Mac up. My wife has a wireless keyboard/mouse combo from MS and I have one from Logitech (both USB). Neither one will wake up a sleeping Mac (not her eMac or any other USB Mac I've ever owned), so for that purpose, I had to plug a wired mouse in and click it, or a wired keybaord in and hit a button. Once you wake it up, it's fine to use.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

One thing people don't seem to realize is that for lid-closed mode to work, you MUST be plugged in to power.

But, as long as you've got power and external video, it will wake up (and stay awake,) just fine from Bluetooth (and, on the MBP, using the Front Row remote as well.)

I have gotten my MBP to wake up over Bluetooth from the Apple combo, as well as from a Salling Clicker-based Palm and cell phone, and from a third-party Bluetooth mouse. As long as you have 'Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer' checked in the Bluetooth preference pane, you should be fine.

 

[generik]

It's not wise to leave the lid on the MBP closed when it is switched on, heat will get trapped by the lid and it may cause your LCD to warp or even crack

 

[ashden]

It's not wise to leave the lid on the MBP closed when it is switched on, heat will get trapped by the lid and it may cause your LCD to warp or even crack

Why? That is exactly how the Apple manual says to do it when using an external mouse, keyboard and monitor.

 

[eva01]

It's not wise to leave the lid on the MBP closed when it is switched on, heat will get trapped by the lid and it may cause your LCD to warp or even crack

Actually that is wrong.

The heat gets sent out the back of the Laptop, unlike the iBook where i believe it is shot upwards. Causing the iBook screen to block heatflow if closed and on while the Powerbook and MacBook Pro do not.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Here we go...

From the MacBook Pro User's Guide, pages 69-70:

Using Your MacBook Pro with the Display Closed
You can use your MacBook Pro with the display closed if the computer is connected to
an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Important: To use your MacBook Pro with the display closed, the power adapter must
be plugged into the MacBook Pro and a functioning power outlet.
To operate your computer with an external monitor attached and the display closed:
1 Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your MacBook Pro.
2 Connect the power adapter to the MacBook Pro and a power outlet. Check that the power adapter light is on.
3 Close the MacBook Pro display to put the computer to sleep.
4 Follow the steps in the previous section to connect your MacBook Pro to an external display.
5 Wait a few seconds and then press any key on the external keyboard to wake the MacBook Pro.

It also mentions that the Apple Remote can wake up the MacBook Pro, but while it doesn't specifically mention that Bluetooth devices will wake it up for lid-closed operation, I can confirm from personal testing that it does work.

 

[ventivent]

Did you ever find out if this keyboard works?

Hi there,

Getting back to the original point of this thead, I was wondering if you were able to try this keyboard with a MacBookPro. I was thinking about doing the exact same setup...getting the new Macbook, hooking it up to my 58" 1080p DLP and surfing from the couch. Please respond if you tried this keyboard, or if not, what alternative you ended up using. I'm thinking aboug bluetooth keboard/mouse, but I would rather have an all-in-one package for sitting on my lap.

Thanks,
ventivent