updates to xserver-common and xserver-xorg-core partially address this problem:
after installing these updates, you can finally make the external desktop monitor primary.
this means you can close the laptop if you want, and you will have a single display visible.
updates are:
xserver-common:amd64 (2:1.18.3-1ubuntu2.3, 2:1.18.4-0ubuntu0.1),
xserver-xorg-core:amd64 (2:1.18.3-1ubuntu2.3, 2:1.18.4-0ubuntu0.1)
see:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...r/+bug/1586260
note that the dmesg spam remains unaffected:
the dmesg buffer is completely swamped with messages like:
[drm:drm_wait_vblank [drm]] *ERROR* Unsupported type value...