All, I just got a new Samsung monitor at a great deal during Black Friday and I have it connected to my MacBook Pro. It doesn't look as nice as I would have hoped, but having a screen larger than 15" to do my work is more what I was after.
But my question is this: is there a way that I can have the Samsung be the main desktop and simply close the MBP? The only options for screens I don't let me set the larger monitor as the main monitor when it's connected to the MBP. It lets me mirror the screen on the laptop, but since that drops the resolution on it, it looks like crap. I'd like to be able to keep it at the monitor's native resolution, but not have to have the MBP open. Obviously I also want things to go back to normal when I disconnect the monitor and take the MBP with me somewhere. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Full Version: New Monitor...
QUOTE(ramjpc @ November 28 2007, 02:21 PM) 
All, I just got a new Samsung monitor at a great deal during Black Friday and I have it connected to my MacBook Pro. It doesn't look as nice as I would have hoped, but having a screen larger than 15" to do my work is more what I was after.
But my question is this: is there a way that I can have the Samsung be the main desktop and simply close the MBP? The only options for screens I don't let me set the larger monitor as the main monitor when it's connected to the MBP. It lets me mirror the screen on the laptop, but since that drops the resolution on it, it looks like crap. I'd like to be able to keep it at the monitor's native resolution, but not have to have the MBP open. Obviously I also want things to go back to normal when I disconnect the monitor and take the MBP with me somewhere. Your help is greatly appreciated.
But my question is this: is there a way that I can have the Samsung be the main desktop and simply close the MBP? The only options for screens I don't let me set the larger monitor as the main monitor when it's connected to the MBP. It lets me mirror the screen on the laptop, but since that drops the resolution on it, it looks like crap. I'd like to be able to keep it at the monitor's native resolution, but not have to have the MBP open. Obviously I also want things to go back to normal when I disconnect the monitor and take the MBP with me somewhere. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Wish I could help...I just did the same but I've got a PC. Did you get the Samsung 24 inch from Circuit City?
Anywho....on my PC it was some weird hidden thing but it works like a champ now that I set it up.
QUOTE(Alyssa Lang @ November 28 2007, 05:49 PM)
Wish I could help...I just did the same but I've got a PC. Did you get the Samsung 24 inch from Circuit City?
Anywho....on my PC it was some weird hidden thing but it works like a champ now that I set it up.
Anywho....on my PC it was some weird hidden thing but it works like a champ now that I set it up.
No, actually I got the 22" one, I wish I could have gotten the 24" as I know it uses a higher quality panel, but the 22" was all I could afford. I can do it with my 3 year old Dell laptop, but that is through the docking station. I am sure there's got to be a way to do it with the MBP....I hope.
Anyone using their MBP the way I want to use mine?
QUOTE(ramjpc @ November 28 2007, 08:27 PM)
No, actually I got the 22" one, I wish I could have gotten the 24" as I know it uses a higher quality panel, but the 22" was all I could afford. I can do it with my 3 year old Dell laptop, but that is through the docking station. I am sure there's got to be a way to do it with the MBP....I hope.
Anyone using their MBP the way I want to use mine?
Anyone using their MBP the way I want to use mine?
when the monitor is connected to your MBP just hit F7. you'll have both monitors as your primary; showing the exact same thing. or you can go to your system preferences and click on displays and then make the second monitor your primary monitor. hope that helps.
-bones
QUOTE(ramjpc @ November 28 2007, 07:27 PM)
No, actually I got the 22" one, I wish I could have gotten the 24" as I know it uses a higher quality panel, but the 22" was all I could afford. I can do it with my 3 year old Dell laptop, but that is through the docking station. I am sure there's got to be a way to do it with the MBP....I hope.
Anyone using their MBP the way I want to use mine?
Anyone using their MBP the way I want to use mine?
I'd double check the specs and reviews BY photographers FOR photographers. Why? Most of the larger panels use TN internal panels. They are great for web/desktop/surfing/games... bad for photos, video, high end work. They don't calibrate "easily" or well, banding, bleedthrough, etc.
Most of my friends use EIZO's over at Fredmiranda.com, but those are thousands plus.
Anways... it IS a good buy, but not for serious photo work.
-tmiller
Tim Miller Photography
http://tmillerphoto.com
QUOTE(tmiller @ November 29 2007, 01:23 AM)
I'd double check the specs and reviews BY photographers FOR photographers. Why? Most of the larger panels use TN internal panels. They are great for web/desktop/surfing/games... bad for photos, video, high end work. They don't calibrate "easily" or well, banding, bleedthrough, etc.
Most of my friends use EIZO's over at Fredmiranda.com, but those are thousands plus.
Anways... it IS a good buy, but not for serious photo work.
-tmiller
Tim Miller Photography
http://tmillerphoto.com
Most of my friends use EIZO's over at Fredmiranda.com, but those are thousands plus.
Anways... it IS a good buy, but not for serious photo work.
-tmiller
Tim Miller Photography
http://tmillerphoto.com
Yeah, I realized that after I hooked up my MBP to it and played with trying to calibrate it for about 1 hr. I got it to look close to the MBP screen, but it's not really what I was expecting. From what I have read, I need to move up to the Samsung 244t and after reading several reviews, even 1 from Shutterbug, they sing it's praises for photo work. Thing is that I can't even afford that one right now (going for around $650), much less one that costs upwards of $1000. So since this is the slow time anyway, I am thinking of keeping it and then giving it to my kids after I get a better one.
But in relation to my original question, I figured out how to make the Samsung the primary monitor. The setting of it is super simple, but the way to get the MBP LCD to turn off is backasswards in my book. It should be simple.
To make the external monitor the primary when using a MBP, open the System Prefereces, click on Displays, click on Arrange, then drag the white bar on the screen representing the MBP LCD to the one representing the external monitor. To turn off the LCD on the MBP, close the lid and allow it to go to sleep, then open it just enough to hit the Enter key, then close the lid again after pressing the Enter key.
QUOTE(ramjpc @ November 29 2007, 09:33 AM)
Yeah, I realized that after I hooked up my MBP to it and played with trying to calibrate it for about 1 hr. I got it to look close to the MBP screen, but it's not really what I was expecting. From what I have read, I need to move up to the Samsung 244t and after reading several reviews, even 1 from Shutterbug, they sing it's praises for photo work. Thing is that I can't even afford that one right now (going for around $650), much less one that costs upwards of $1000. So since this is the slow time anyway, I am thinking of keeping it and then giving it to my kids after I get a better one.
But in relation to my original question, I figured out how to make the Samsung the primary monitor. The setting of it is super simple, but the way to get the MBP LCD to turn off is backasswards in my book. It should be simple.
To make the external monitor the primary when using a MBP, open the System Prefereces, click on Displays, click on Arrange, then drag the white bar on the screen representing the MBP LCD to the one representing the external monitor. To turn off the LCD on the MBP, close the lid and allow it to go to sleep, then open it just enough to hit the Enter key, then close the lid again after pressing the Enter key.
But in relation to my original question, I figured out how to make the Samsung the primary monitor. The setting of it is super simple, but the way to get the MBP LCD to turn off is backasswards in my book. It should be simple.
To make the external monitor the primary when using a MBP, open the System Prefereces, click on Displays, click on Arrange, then drag the white bar on the screen representing the MBP LCD to the one representing the external monitor. To turn off the LCD on the MBP, close the lid and allow it to go to sleep, then open it just enough to hit the Enter key, then close the lid again after pressing the Enter key.
I just grabbed a Samsung 215TW from Tigerdirect.com for 429.99, plus s a 100.00 mail in rebate! I'm on it right now, it's 20.1 inches, widescreen (come on, that's BIG ENOUGH) =o)
I wouldn't know what to do with 22-24-30 inchers!
This is a good panel now too, a bit of a lag issue, but that's because it has a PVA panel which is good, but slow for games. I tweaked it a bit, and we're all good now.
For my Eye 2 calibrator in the mail today as well, and after many hours of tweaks, I'm officially "calibrated". =o)
-tmiller
Tim Miller Photography
http://tmillerphoto.com
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.