Because apps like Safari decide how much information that they can show at once based on the current display resolution. The Mac determines the available screen resolutions by determining the type of monitor that is connected. When no monitor is connected, no screen resolution is defined, and so any program that depends on screen resolution will go wacko, as it thinks you have a screen with size 0. Can't fit a lot of information on a screen with size 0. Most programmers never test for that situation, because they can't test without some sort of monitor connected. Apple could fix Safari, but that's just one program among many that will go bonkers with a size 0 screen.
On Windows, there is a way to tell it to ignore what it thinks is possible for the monitor, and to just use a specific screen resolution. The Mac doesn't have any way to bypass its sanity checking in that regard, at least as far as I've been able to discover. Maybe there is some way to hack it in from the terminal. I have a built-in screen on my MBP, and a monitor for my Mac Pro, so i'm personally satisfied. Maybe someone that's motivated could poke around and see if they can find a hack to manually force the mac to use a specific screen resolution. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Moore Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 5:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Using a Mac Mini without a monitor Why is it sluggish without a monitor? That does not make sense. Why should someone blind be forced into paying for a monitor they can't see and running up extra electricity costs. Tell apple they need to think more about their green policies! I would love to know what accessibility at apple think of that one. On 27 Jun 2010, at 22:21, Courtney Curran wrote: > Hi, > I've never used a monitor with my Mack mini. Even with setup, I didn't use a > mouse, but it was kind of tough, without the mouse plus, I didn't really know > much about the Mack. But other than that, my Mack Mini works fine without the > monitor, kind of sluggish with Safari though. > Hth, > Courtney > On Jun 27, 2010, at 4:30 PM, Cody Hurst wrote: > >> I"m not so sure that a monitor is required, although it might be for >> the initial setup. I can say for sure a keyboard and mouse are required for >> the setup. I think when I had my mini back in 08 that it was required but >> I'm unsure On Jun 27, 2010, at 3:47 PM, Aman Singer wrote: >> >>> Hi, all. >>> I find myself in some difficulty. I have available to me one of the >>> new Mac Minis. However, I do not have a monitor at all times. Before >>> I obtain the unit, I should like to know whether it would be >>> possible to use it without a monitor. If so, are any settings >>> required? If not, when is the check for the monitor done? Is it just >>> at boot up, or is it done periodically throughout the use of the system? >>> Thanks in advance. >>> Aman >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
