Using my iMac as a main display for a MacBook

I'm thinking about getting myself a MacBook Pro to replace my iMac, which I got in 2008.
My question is, would it be possible to keep my current iMac and connect a MacBook to it, so that the screen of the iMac can be used as a main display for the MacBook?
Thanks for your time

Hi and welcome to Discussions,
only the latest 27" iMacs have a video-in port.
All iMacs prior the these, as your own iMac, only have a video-out port and therefor cannot be used for what you have in mind.
However you might wanna have a look at ScreenRecycler http://www.screenrecycler.com/ScreenRecycler.html which, depending on your useage, may be sufficient.
Regards
Stefan

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Using my iMac as a second display for my Macbook

Hello. I was just wondering if it is possible to use my G5 (early 2008) iMac as a secondary display for my Macbook (late 2009) using a mini Dvi cable?
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Use ScreenRecycler and a network connection.
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Using the IMac 27 only as display for MacBook Pro

Hello,
i like to use my iMac 27 only as display for my MacBook Pro.
I have the connecting cable.
I must start the iMac, he is booting and then i can plug in the cable to my MacBook. Now i have the second display for using with my MacBook.
Now my question: Is it possible to use the display without booting the iMac-system?
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Lutz

LutzTrabert wrote:
Now my question: Is it possible to use the display without booting the iMac-system?
no.
[_*Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display*_|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924]
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How do I use my IMac as a second moniter for my Macbook Pro?

Okay, So I would like to use my IMac as a monitor for my mbp. The IMac is a 2010 model and the Macbook is 2012 (Not the retina).
I'm a music producer and I'm sick of having to switch devices so I just want to keep all my stuff on the macbook but the screens way too small.
What I want to do is use the mbp screen with the mixer section of logic as well as use the IMac as a second moniter with the arrange screen.
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if so
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You can use the iMac as an external display for your MacBook Pro, always that you have got a 27-inch iMac. See > http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11302
You have to purchase a Mini DisplayPort cable (Ethernet won't work, as this is not designed as a video cable to connect Macs), and then, press Command and F2 keys on the iMac.
If you have got a 21'5-inch iMac, you can use an application like ScreenRecycler, which uses your network to use the iMac as an external screen

Using an iMac as a 2nd display for another iMac?

Hi all,
is it possible to use an iMac as a 2nd display for another iMac?
I guess it depends (if at all possible) on the models, right?
Would it be possible with two of the currently available iMac 27" models?
Is it just connecting the two video jacks with a cable? That would mean that the jack is input AND output connector at the same time: the video signal would be output from iMac 1 and serve as input for iMac 2.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Stefan.

Awesome, David! Thank you! That helped a lot!
Additional question: because running applications on the target-display-mode-iMac keep running: will I be able to connect from the source iMac to the target-mode-iMac via OS X's Share Screen functionality? So that I can still USE the 2nd (target-display-mode) iMac for running applications and accessing them? Or is the iMac in target display mode really just a dumb display? Will ssh'ing to it work?
A little background: programs like Cubase and Logic work really great with two screens. Additionally, some audio plugins really need a lot of CPU power and some of those can actually distribute the number crunching via the LAN to other computers. So my thought is: run Cubase on iMac #1, use iMac #2 as a 2nd screen (will work, thanks to David's reply) AND use iMac #2's CPU, too, to help some Cubase plugins' number crunching. Would that work?
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First is it possible to connect my imac eaRLY 2009 as display for my macbook white 2010?

first is it possible to connect my imac eaRLY 2009 as display for my macbook white 2010? If so what exact cables on the market do i need to purchase to make this work? Please help me out. I cannot afford to buy a new mac so temporarily this is my only solution.
Thanks to all my Mac buddies for your assistance

The Early2009 20" or 24" iMac don't have any video-in capabilities.
Depending on your needs, you can investigate or tryout AirDisplay or ScreenRecycler which enable use of a Mac from another Mac or Windows PC through network/wireless connections.
Stefan

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I would like Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display for my mac book air.
i bought a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, it's the Belkin Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable on apple store.
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where is my error ?

Morning seal, my experience suggests the latter of your two posts is the correct one. I have a 27" iMac with a mini display port (a 2-year old one, not the newer one with thunderbolt); and a brand new Mac book air with thunderbolt. I connected the two with a Belkin male-male mini display port to mini display port cable, and it works fine - press command f2, and the iMac acts as display for the MBA.
The irony here is that the folks at the apple store in Paris assured me that this would NOT work, and that I needed to buy a €999 thunderbolt display to connect to my MBA. I thought I'd try anyway, since I had the cable to connect a MacBook pro to the iMac anyway... Glad I did.
Bottom line: yes, despite all the confusion, the new MacBook air will connect to the minidisplay port of an older iMac 27"; and the cable it needs to do that is the older minidisplay port cable, not the thunderbolt one.

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Can I use my imac (intel 2008) as an external display for a PC (Dell 2002)? If so, what cables would I need?

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I have a relatively old iMac 6.1 that I would like to use as a diplay for my MacBook Pro: any idea of how I can do that and what connecting cables I would need?
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Vittorio

Unless the MBP has Thunderbolt you can't use the iMac as an external monitor unless you get ScreenRecycler. If the MBP does have Thunderbolt you need a Thunderbolt cable. Because Thunderbolt is so new finding a cable could be quite a challenge, you may want to contact Lacie and see if they can sell you one other than that I have no idea where to find one now.

Is it possible to use an iMac as an external monitor for a MacBook?

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No, it's not possible. Your iMac simply does not have a "video in" port for the MacBook's "video out" port. While Mike N. (nahyunil)'s option may give the illusion that you have two monitors, it does NOT turn off the system on the iMac. The iMac must be on and fully functional for that option to work.
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Use G5 iMac as external monitor/display for Intel iMac?

I have a 24" Intel iMac and a 20" G5 iMac (which is sort of mothballed now).I was wondering if it is possible to use the older iMac as an external monitor, mainly to save the expense of buying a "proper" external display when there seems to be a perfectly usable one sitting there in the G5 iMac.

translate.google.com.
Actually, it didn't translate very well. But the instructions are basically how to wire up an adapter cable. The G5 iMac appears to use standard DVI signals, so you just need to make a DVI cable to plug in to the internal connector. The table between pages 7 and 8 is what you want. If you've used a soldering iron around electronic devices before, that table is pretty much all you need. The picture of the backside on page 9 is neat. Using the ethernet connector hole to route the wiring. Almost looks like it came from the factory that way.

When mountain lion comes out, could i use a 21.5 in 2011 iMac as a wireless display for my macbook pro?

I have a new macbook pro, not the retna, and I think it would be cool/useful to do this. I saw something about doing that kind of stuff with the apple tv at wwdc but I don't think it mentioned displays.

Air Display
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/37480/air-display/ <<< click here.

Am I able to use a iMac 27" as a monitor for my MacBook Pro 15" ?

Hi there,
Am I able to use a (mini display) iMac 27" as a secondary monitor for my (thunderbolt) MacBook Pro 15" ?
Are they able to connect to eachother?
Many thanks,
Seppiee

I am under the impression that this kind of set up is not possible. However, there's a Cult of Mac article that talks about the feasability of such set up.

Using 2009 iMac as display for 2012 MacBook Pro

I have a late 2009 27-inch iMac and a Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012 MacBook Pro. How do I use the iMac screen as a display for the MacBook.

Hi Jim on Apple,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
It sounds like you need to put your iMac in what is called Target Display Mode. The attached article has some great information on Target Display Mode including setting up and other common frequently asked questions.
Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924
Have a great day,
Joe

How can I use my rMBP as a secondary display for my iMac using thunderbolt?

Based on this thread, it's not possible: https://discussions.apple.com/message/19207767
But, I'm stubborn and refuse to believe that. Maybe they've released a software update (e.g., in Mountain Lion) that has since made this possible? Maybe there is an app that allows for this?
Note that I don't want a solution that involves network hacks... this is at work, and I'd rather not slow down the network for others. And I'm not interested in the reverse setup (i.e., using my iMac as a secondary display for my rMBP).
iMac: 27-inch, Late 2012. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M 512 MB. OS X 10.8.4.
rMBP: Retina, Mid 2012 (15" I think). NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1024 MB. OS X 10.8.4.

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Regards.

Using my iMac as a main display for a MacBook

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