PowerBook closed... is this okay?

[p0intblank]

I want to run my Mac off my Dell 2005FPW and was wondering if it's too risky to do this with my PowerBook closed. I know this can be done, but is it safe? Can the air still circulate safely? I would do dual displays, but I don't really have the room to mount my PowerBook on my iCurve.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CoMpX]

You can safely do this with your PB because, unlike the iBook, heat is not emitted from the keyboard. The PB was designed to operate this way.

 

[p0intblank]

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply. I wasn't sure because I mistakenly thought air actually circulated through the PowerBook's keyboard, but I guess that is not the case. Is that why the iBook has to be hacked to use extended desktop?

 

[ChrisBrightwell]

While the PB safely operates in "clamshell" mode, I avoid doing so for extended periods of time. Heat clearly escapes through the keyboard and palmrest surfaces, as evidenced by the heat present on those surfaces.

 

[stevey500]

I run my powerbook 12" with my 20" 2005fpw over dvi closed all the time, connected to over 7 USB devices, firewire drive, and under full load quite a bit, no problems what so ever. I can also run it the same with the clamshell open to run in dual screen mode just fine.

 

[thumb]

if you are worried about it, you can close the powerbook, awake it with an external input (using monitor now) and then open the lid. as long as you dont touch the keyboard, it won't wake up, so you can let it air out. in fact, i am doing this right now.

i hope you dont mind if i add my own question now. when i run it this way (closed or open) the PB fan is always running. when i run my PB normally, the fan goes in and out.

why is that?

 

[stevey500]

same here, the fan runs constantly on mine when hooked externally. i'm pretty sure its because the video procressor is pushing more pixels, making more heat, telling the kernel to keep the fan running.

Edit: I have also noticed USB devices also jack up the heat of the powerbook...

 

[xPismo]

same here, the fan runs constantly on mine when hooked externally...

I think its a saftey from the blocked cooling paths. The big port on my powerbook is in the hinge at the base of the screen. Close the screen, and it seems like the biggest port is blocked off.

Honestly, this thing is so hot (heck, it looks like it cooked my new replacement battery - but thats another thread) I'd rather not push it by blocking vents.

 

[AppleGuy08]

How do you run dual screens with the powerbook? i have an ibook with one 20 inch dell monitor already hooked up to it through the mini VGA. Is there some way to bridge the monitors or something?

 

[iProd]

How do you run dual screens with the powerbook? i have an ibook with one 20 inch dell monitor already hooked up to it through the mini VGA. Is there some way to bridge the monitors or something?

Yes, google Screen Spanning Doctor...just remember, you REALLY don't want to run an iBook with the lid closed