Enable Monitor Rotation on your Powerbook

I was right. I never tire of saying that, or even typing it. Way back in March I posted about how it was rumored that monitor rotation would be included in Tiger (and I guessed that Tiger would cost $129). As we all know by now, I was right (on both accounts).

However, it looked like us Powerbook users wouldn't be able to use this feature. Fear not, according to Leo at fscklog Powerbook users can rejoice! At least 15-inch or greater Powerbook users with an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 can rejoice. Luckily, I count myself amongst those numbers; sadly C.K. has a 12-inch Powerbook, and this trick wouldn't work for him.

I am happy to report that rotating your monitor on a 15-inch Powerbook has never been easier:

1. Launch System Preferences (if you already have System Preferences open quit it and launch it again).
2. Hold down the Option key and click the 'Displays' preference.
3. There's no step 3!

You should find yourself looking at a preference pane that looks exactly like the picture in this post.  Rotate at your own risk though, navigating via trackpad with the screen rotated at 90 degrees isn't as easy as it sounds.

To return your screen to normal repeat steps 1 and 2 (including quitting System Preferences).

This entry was tag team written by C.K. and myself, so if it seems meaner than my normal fare you know why.