> Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
Generally the machines that sleep automatically when the lid is closed
do so because for them not to sleep in that condition would generate too
much heat.
That said, there are apparently models which sleep and don't need to
(which is why I said "generally") and then there are people for whom the
risk is acceptable. For them, there's this:
<http://binaervarianz.de/projekte/programmieren/meltmac/> which
apparently isn't particularly useful past 10.2.
You can also determine where the sensor is for your model and just put
something in there to interfere with it. I've seen a coin suggested.
That should bypass the built-in functionality that makes Insomnia less
useful on 10.3 and up. Help on that front is available here:
<http://home.earthlink.net/~mrob/pub/ibook.html>
For other solutions, I googled these terms:
powerbook disable lid sleep
G

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Dave-tx - 08 Aug 2005 18:25 GMT
>> Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
>> I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> For other solutions, I googled these terms:
> powerbook disable lid sleep
Thanks for the links. I also dug up this kernel extension and figured
I'd post it in case anyone reading this thread is interested:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050308172947974
-Dave
Richard Chang - 13 Aug 2005 14:12 GMT
> > Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> > I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
>
> Generally the machines that sleep automatically when the lid is closed
> do so because for them not to sleep in that condition would generate too
> much heat.
This hasn't been true for a while, right? I know the PBTi's can be run
with the lid closed. The older PB's vent thru the keyboard, newer ones
vent in the back.
To do this, you must be plugged into the AC adapter, external monitor
& keyboard. When you close the lid, the machine is still monitoring the
USB ports (it's half asleep?). Pressing a key on the external keyboard
should wake it back up.
-R.
John Johnson - 13 Aug 2005 21:19 GMT
> > > Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> > > I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> with the lid closed. The older PB's vent thru the keyboard, newer ones
> vent in the back.
The Ti isn't exactly top of the line gear these days. While the newer
PBs do have rear vents, they also generate significant amounts of heat.
Whether or not the heat is supposed to be dissipated through the
keyboard, it will heat the upper surface of the machine and, when the
lid is closed, the screen. I'll also note that, on my 15" AlBook at any
rate, the amount of heat generated increases substantially when doing
graphics-intensive tasks (like playing a DVD/video) so you need to take
that into account.
Whether that amount of heat is dangerous for your LCD, I can't tell you.
I'm actually too lazy to bother messing with it, so I live without that
particular feature.

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Richard Chang - 14 Aug 2005 00:01 GMT
> > > > Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> > > > I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> The Ti isn't exactly top of the line gear these days. While the newer
> PBs do have rear vents, they also generate significant amounts of heat.
The PBTi was not a cool running laptop. I would have thought that
newer generations of the PBG4 ran cooler. In any case, the Apple
engineers do not share your concerns. From the PBG4 15" 1.67GHz manual:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To operate your computer with an external monitor attached and the
display closed:
1 Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your PowerBook.
2 Connect the power adapter to the PowerBook and an outlet.
3 Close the PowerBook display to put the computer to sleep.
4 Follow the steps in the previous section to connect your PowerBook to
an external display.
5 Wait a few seconds and then press any key on the external keyboard to
wake the PowerBook.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Also from the Apple web site:
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88064>
-R.
Paul Nevai - 14 Aug 2005 15:00 GMT
John Johnson <null@invalid.com> aszonygya:
:The Ti isn't exactly top of the line gear these days. While the newer
:PBs do have rear vents, they also generate significant amounts of heat.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
:I'm actually too lazy to bother messing with it, so I live without that
:particular feature.
FYI, my 3+ year old TI PB has been on 24/7 with the lid closed for 3+ years -
I use it with an external screen. I use an external Vornado fan which has
been also on for 3+ years 24/7 blowing air to the back of the TI PB. The fan
is super quiet, the TI PB is pretty cool [I mean temperaturewise], and all
has been OK for 3+ years.
As a bonus. my external hard drives also get part of the draft.
/PaulN
> Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
I realize that this is a little late, but it looks like no one actually
provided a correct answer for current PowerBooks, so maybe this will
still be useful.
Answer: yes, not only is it possible, Apple tells how to do it right in
the owner's manual. Look for the section titled "Using You PowerBook
With The Display Closed".
--- begin quote ---
Using Your PowerBook With the Display Closed
You can use your PowerBook with the display closed if the computer is
connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and the power
adapter is plugged into the PowerBook and an outlet.
Important: To use your PowerBook with the display closed, the power
adapter must be plugged into the PowerBook and an outlet.
To operate your computer with an external monitor attached and the
display closed:
1 Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your PowerBook.
2 Connect the power adapter to the PowerBook and an outlet.
3 Close the PowerBook display to put the computer to sleep.
4 Follow the steps in the previous section to connect your PowerBook to
an external display.
5 Wait a few seconds and then press any key on the external keyboard to
wake the PowerBook.
--- end quote ---
Reasonable variations of that work, too. When I arrive at work with
mine, I slide it into the space between two of my other computers, plug
it into one of the display and USB ports on a KVM switch, plug in a
network cable, and then plug in the power adaptor. It wakes up at that
point.

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--Tim Smith
Tim Smith - 26 Aug 2005 10:25 GMT
In article
<reply_in_group-267C81.02214926082005@news1.east.earthlink.net>,
> I realize that this is a little late, but it looks like no one actually
> provided a correct answer for current PowerBooks, so maybe this will
> still be useful.
Ahhh...OK, I missed one. Someone did answer correctly.

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--Tim Smith
Dave-tx - 26 Aug 2005 16:35 GMT
>> Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
>> I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> the owner's manual. Look for the section titled "Using You PowerBook
> With The Display Closed".
My specific application required using the PB without power, external
monitor, or USB keyboard attached, which was why I went with one of
the suggested links posted previously.
Thanks, though.
Dave
Daniel Cohen - 26 Aug 2005 21:56 GMT
> > Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> > I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> the owner's manual. Look for the section titled "Using You PowerBook
> With The Display Closed".
Are there any reasons (heat dissipation, for instance) why one should
not do this?

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Steve Hix - 27 Aug 2005 01:03 GMT
> > > Is it possible to close the Powerbook (G4) without invoking sleep mode?
> > > I'd like to be able to close the lid while recording audio.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Are there any reasons (heat dissipation, for instance) why one should
> not do this?
Not if you follow the directions in the manual.