Mac Mini vs. laptop on the cart

One of the main reasons some have wanted to go to a Mac Mini setup as
opposed to using their PowerBook or Mac Book Pro laptop has been the
difficulty and inconvenience of the laptop form factor when trying to
use it on a cart shelf. The advantages of using the laptop over a Mac
Mini are obvious: no DCD powering problems, for example, and the biggest
advantage --- you may already own the laptop and not have to purcdhase a
Mac Mini. I may be th first to find this out (or the last if everybody
already knows this) but how about using the laptop with an external
monitor and keyboard and the screen CLOSED with the laptop tucked away
on a slim shelf? See below an Apple Knowledge Base article about this.
As they say in Australia, "too easy". Looks like it shouldn't be a
problemn to do this.

How to use your PowerBook G4 or MacBook Pro with the display closed

If you use an external display or projector with any MacBook Pro or
PowerBook G4 and a USB mouse or keyboard, you can close the display and
still use the computer. Here's how.
(If you want to do the same thing with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard,
see this article.)

Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power
adapter.
Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your computer.
Connect the Apple video (VGA or DVI) adapter that came with your
computer to the appropriate port on the external display or projector
and turn the display or projector on.
With the computer turned on and your keyboard or mouse connected,
connect the other end of the adapter to the video output port on your
MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4.
Once your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the
computer's lid.
Once the lid is closed, wake the computer up by either clicking your
mouse button or by pressing a key on your keyboard.
You should now be able to use your MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4 as you
normally would, using your USB keyboard or mouse.
To disconnect your MacBook Pro or PowerBook G4 from the display after
use:

When you have finished using the external display and you're ready to
disconnect it from your computer, you will usually want to put the
computer to sleep before you remove the VGA or DVI connector from the
computer.

Some DVI displays, including Apple's aluminium-framed DVI displays, can
be unplugged without putting the computer to sleep. If you aren't sure
whether your display supports this feature, put your computer to sleep
before unplugging the display.

Regards, Jeff Wexler
.