My eyes are suffering quite a lot with having to spend 4 to 6 hours a day in front of a 14 inch laptop screen.

Current laptop is a VAIO VGN-CS26S, two years old this April.

I am thinking of a couple of ways to improve my viewing comfort;

1. Get a wireless monitor - maybe 19 inch or so, and

2. Get a wireless keyboard

My main concern is if I set my laptop power settings to do nothing when the lid is closed will it overheat as I continue to work using items 1 & 2 above and will my Toshiba external drive continue to work okay.

Why a wireless monitor, the notebook should have a VGA output? I have several Lenovo notebooks setup where I work and they generally operate as desktop computers (not my idea to use them this way). They all have standard external LCD monitors. The lids are normally down (auto poweroff disabled) but they all have fan cooling stands under them. These stands can be bought for 1000+ baht and plugs into the USB port for power.

And a USB keyboard.

If you are going to a stand alone monitor and keyboard suggest you just get a 24" iMac which is computer and monitor all rolled into one and a very decent keyboard and fabulous clarity and sound, fast, no virus issues or defrag, apart from buckets of speed and memory. It is more expensive this way (I don't know your budget) but hanging peripherals off a notebook (which I also do) is a pure pain in the ass. And to my knowledge you can't close the screen of the notebook and run your peripherals thus the notebook even if on screensaver will still be operating. There are the fold out full size keyboards as a USB plug in, but the screens if budget is a consideration or mobility, I would suggest look at LG upwards of 19" and highest possible resolution. But a VGA or HDMI connection is essential. Prices are under 8,000 Baht for HD 1920 x 1080 24" 16:9 wide screen vision. We use them for editing and are compatible with Mac's as well in quality and colour match. Good luck.