I need a much lighter Mac for travelling than what I use now which is a MBpro 15-inch.

So after a visit to the Apple store to check out the perceived weights of the various portable Macs, it turns out I need to go with the 11-inch Air as far as weight is concerned.

So far so good.

But when I'm home, I don't really want to use that small screen if I can help it, so the idea is to hook up a large 24 inch monitor, preferably wirelessly which doesn't seem to be an option yet, otherwise via a Display port, and also get a Bluetooth keuboard and mouse.

So the MBAir would still provide the processing power (which is plenty for my needs, as well as the storage, and I would use the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and the large monitor as a "desktop" so to speak.

I assume this will work, ix any one using that type of set up?
Rhe only issue I see is that I cannot close the MacBook Air since it would go to sleep then, I would have to leave the lid open.
Or is there some way around that?

You can run the MBA in clamshell mode, I have the exact setup you describe above at work.

Great, thanks.
Never heard of clamshell mode before but it's something I would use - comes only with Lion and later if I read the various googled posts right.

Do you use a USB keyboard and mouse or wireless?

No, you've been able to use clamshell mode before Lion, did with my MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Use wired keyboard and wireless mouse with the MBA at work, but used wireless both with a MacBook previously.

... when I'm home, I don't really want to use that small screen if I can help it, so the idea is to hook up a large 24 inch monitor, preferably wirelessly which doesn't seem to be an option yet, otherwise via a Display port, and also get a Bluetooth keuboard and mouse. ...

A TBolt dock might work.

Belkin & Matrox Announce Updated Thunderbolt Docking Stations | Product News | The Mac Observer (http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/belkin_matrox_announce_updated_thunderbolt_docking _stations/)

One cable from the MacBook Air to the dock can hook you up to an external monitor, wired gigabit network, USB2/3 and/or Firewire devices, digital audio, etc. Unfortunately, neither are shipping yet. What is shipping now is Apple's Thunderbolt Display:

Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch) - Apple Store (Canada) (http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MC914LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ)

Craig

Thanks,

I have seen those and none of these will be an option for me.

First off, the price is ridiculous for what I need.
I don't need a GB network connection, even the Minis in the house run via WiFi (even though they do have ethernet ports), don't need an interface to firewire or extra USB ports either - or digital audio, so I would be paying for a lot of connectivity I don't use.
The unit also uses an external power brick, I have decided to no longer buy products with that type of powering unless there is no other choice.


For my purposes I will connect the display via a Display Port cable and the keyboard and mouse either via USB 2.0 or via Bluetooth.
That requires one or maybe two cables and is a heck of a lot cheaper than either one of these port replicator boxes.

PS: The Apple Thunderbolt display actually makes more sense - it includes all the extra connectivity provided by the Belkin (I believe or most of it at least) and is nicely integrated in a display which one needs anyway.
One doesn't have another box sitting on the desk.

I'm sure there will be other companies coming out with Thunderbolt displays at a lower price level than Apple and then the Belkin unit is a dead duck.

I have a setup similar. You will have a plug for the screen, no wireless there. And either mouse + keyboard wireless (bluetooth is best), or a USB hub that you plug each time. I chose the last option, it's nothing really to plug 2 wires, and you can buy cheaper keyboard and mouse if not bluetooth.

I have a setup similar. You will have a plug for the screen, no wireless there. And either mouse + keyboard wireless (bluetooth is best), or a USB hub that you plug each time.

Why a USB hub?
The wired Apple keyboard includes a two port USB 2.0 hub, one port for the mouse and the other for whatever.
And that still leaves me with one free USB port on the Air.

Why a USB hub?
The wired Apple keyboard includes a two port USB 2.0 hub, one port for the mouse and the other for whatever.
And that still leaves me with one free USB port on the Air.

Well that's what I was suggesting, except you have the hub and keyboard merged :) That being said I do not like apple's keyboard, but that's only me being a mechanical keyboard afficionado (Filco Majestouch <3).

.....I do not like apple's keyboard, but that's only me being a mechanical keyboard afficionado (Filco Majestouch <3).

I use both on different Macs, the old Apple ones and the new one. They all have integrated hubs except for the bluetooth one.
I must say I didn't like the new keyboard at first but now I prefer it to the old type.