MacOS – set Lion scrollbars to always be off? (Except when a mouse is plugged in)

macosscrolling

I like the fact that scrollbars disappear in Lion, but only if I don't have an external mouse plugged in to my MacBook Pro. Is there a way to have this behavior always be on?

I know I can set the vanishing scrollbars to be "always off", but I'm basically looking for a way to do the opposite.

Asked in other way: I know we can set the scrollbars to be Always On in the System Preferences, but looking for a way to do it Automatically NOT based on input device. I don't want to see a scroll bar unless/until a mouse is present on the system.

preferences screenshot

Best Answer

The option you mention in System Preferences does exactly what you say (or its behavior was changed since your question).

The first option, "Automatically based on input device" does what you want (I think, but I may have misunderstood your question). When you have a mouse plugged in, it shows the scrollbars. When you unplug your mouse, it will revert to the default of only showing scrollbars when you are scrolling.

I hope this answered your question. Please let me know if it doesn't, as I probably misunderstood what you are asking.