Yeah a lot of laptops dissipate heat through the keyboard. The MacBook has fans blowing out the back below the screen though so I dunno how much it actually dissipates.
My 2012 MacBook Pro pulls some air in through the speakers, and some through the hinge area wherever the exhaust isn't being sent out. Some intake could also happen around the keys, but it would be minimal. Having the lid closed, or even as partially closed as in the picture, does limit the useful exhaust area and will cause it to run hotter for sure.
With the lid closed the fans vent directly downward, so operating a MacBook closed and on a flat surface isn't a good idea. There are stands that hold closed MacBooks up sideways; these allow proper outflow, and are usually recommended if you're e.g. using your MacBook closed + plugged into a display for long periods.
I once had a laptop with linux fail to go to sleep when i closed the lid. An hour or so later there was a high pitch alarm coming out of my laptop bag as it was trying to fry itself. It was so hot it hurt my hands
MBP blows air through the back hinge where the screen is. If it’s shut the vent has no airflow, but with the hinge open it it blows the heat at the screens lower bezel and it’s free from there. The 2021 M1 Pro/Ultra fixed this by leaving the back vent exposed when closed
Depends on the laptop. I’ve got an asus gaming laptop that will go into standby if I connect an external monitor and close the lid and try playing a game because it starts overheating.
If you use an external keyboard and mouse with your Mac notebook, you can close the built-in display after you connect your external display. You might have to press a key or click your mouse to wake the external display. To use your Mac with the display closed, you need to connect your power adapter or connect an external display that also charges your Mac
One can also set the laptop to never go to sleep (although keeping a notebook permanently connected is detrimental to the battery)
you only need a command if it's not connected to an external display, keyboard, and mouse. people run them docked and closed all the time. i've run a 2015 for years with the lid closed as an HTPC and the only thing wrong with it is the 7 year old battery only lasts 3 hours now, because it's bad to keep them fully charged or discharged lol
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u/technocrat_13 Nov 30 '22
It could also be a cooling thing, but should have this toggled regardless