iBook as a desktop

[Tom Burke]

On 23 Apr 2004, at 08:00, iBook List wrote:

>
> Message-Id: <4701E1B4-94A6-11D8-ACDC-0003938E316A at comcast.net>
> From: Ken Johnson <kr-johnson at comcast.net>
> Subject: iBook as a desktop
> Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:44:48 -0400
>
> I am looking to buy a new laptop & considering the iBook - the new ones
> just announced are hard to resist.  I do want to be able to attach a
> bookends unit and use it as a desktop.  In that configuration, I'd keep
> the screen closed and use an aux keyboard, mouse, and monitor.  Is that
> doable on the iBook?  I know it is on the Powerbook (my other option)
>
> Ken

You need the 'Screen Spanning Doctor' hack - here's a link to the 
webpage:

http://macparts.de/ibook/

Note that this is a hack to your iBook's firmware with possibly 
unpredictable results. That said, many people are using it without 
problems - I am, on a G3 800Mhz 12" - and on recent iBooks it seems to 
work OK. The background is that Apple seem to have disabled a number of 
the graphics capabilities in the iBook's firmware, possibly in order to 
differentiate them from the Powerbooks; this hack reverses Apple's 
disabling.

It includes what the author calls 'operation in clamshell mode', which 
is exactly what you describe - operating with the lid closed. But he 
also says that there are more questions about this change than the 
monitor spanning one, and during installation you do get the choice to 
install the clamshell mode, or not install it, separately. I chose not 
to.

I think a Mac laptop is a good choice as a desktop replacement, subject 
to certain caveats: a) the 12" Powerbooks and all the iBooks only have 
the mini-DVI video interface. This might restrict your long-term choice 
of monitor; and b) if you go with the iBook, I think you do need the 
Screen Spanning Doctor hack as I imagine that long-term you'll get 
frustrated with just having 1024 x 768 resolution, no matter what 
monitor you attach. I know I would.

Tom Burke