XYMer's Home away from Home

I may be coming into some money and I'm looking into a MacBook Pro to possibly use as a replacement for a G5 tower down the way.

I looked on everymac.com and it appears that even the low end model (2.4 Duo, 13 inch) will do 2560 x 1600 on an external monitor. That is key because I have a cinema display. Would I be able to buy an external keyboard and mouse and hook this up to my 30 inch cinema display and use it like a desktop? If so, that goes a long way towards making it a desirable machine for me. Plus, it is a laptop, so it is portable, and it would finally bring me into the Intel age.

I haven't tried the PMU yet on the G5, so I'm getting a spare today to tide me over while I wait to see how the money situation turns out. But I just wanna know if this laptop can also double as my desktop? (Of course I would use a fan cooled cooling pad.)

sorta! it's gonna be a little underpowered for the CD and what connection does the CD have?
And yes you can plug in a keyboard and monitor and close the lid and use it as a desktop

The CD has a dual-link DVI connection. The specs for the machine says it will power an external monitor to 2560 x 1600 and, as far as I know, not many monitors have that except for the CD. Although it does seem odd that even though it is a Macbook Pro, this model doesn't use a dedicated video card. I'm confused. I'm sure that they could help demonstrate it at the store, but I just want to know a little ahead of time and not go in blind.

Just found this on apple's site:

Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter supports 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display (optional)

Make sure you get the Mini DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI adapter. I used to use my Aluminum PowerBook as a desktop when I was at my desk. Even though it could work as a second monitor, I preferred just using the external monitor. One thing to be careful of though, if you run your computer closed screen a lot, it can get hot and the keyboard will forever smell funny (ALL iBooks had this smell, regardless of whether they ran closed screen. Fewer PowerBooks did. I don't know for sure about the MacBooks though).

Edit: Dang it, psalad! Beat me to it

Gack! $100 for that adapter!

Does it HAVE to be closed when using it as a desktop? Can it be left open and just ignored?

It can be left open, but I don't think there's a way to turn off the monitor, if you were looking to do that.

I have a 13" mbpro running a 23" cinema, and I don't notice any smells... always runs closed while driving the 23"... I also use it open quite a bit though.

I wonder if there are any 3rd party adapters? I've seem 'em out more and more...

If left open, would the MBP's monitor self-dim while running the external? No, I didn't think I could turn it off, but I could turn it facing away, LOL. But if the right thing to do is close it, well then, I would. Anyway, this is all hypothetical based on my getting the cash. Still.... it can happen!

Monoprice has had Mini-DisplayPort adapters for ages now.

Dual link DVI to DisplayPort adapters supposedly didn't (don't?) work very well. There have been lots of complaints of flickering.

I wouldn't assume this will work well.

- Anonymous

Well, they'll just hafta demonstrate it for me at the store!

I use my Macboook with my 23" CD and I keep it closed. It sure appears to be completely turned off and is very cool to the touch.

DisplayPort should work properly through an inexpensive DVI adapter with monitors up to 1920x1200 resolution. Beyond that, as for example the 30" Cinema Display, you need the sketchy, expensive, dual link adapter.

- Anonymous