Help! MacBook Air with Cinema Display or iMac?

I've recently been getting much more into Photography, and I would like to do more editing. The only problem is that I'm finding the screen size of my 11" MacBook Air a little too small for it. It's fast enough, but it has quite a small screen, not a lot of storage space....
So my question is, would it be better to add an Apple Cinema Display to it (not necessarily one of the latest ones, I don't mind the older 20" or 23" Aluminium models), or should I get myself an iMac?
I am a student so obviously I will be doing word processing and internet browsing quite frequently, but in all honest my MacBook Air does not move from my desk that much. Any advice would be appreciated! Is having a MacBook in addition to an iMac being greedy?
Thanks!

I'm currently sitting in my office using my MBP and looking at a 24" Samsung display. At home I replaced my 4 year old iMac with a 2 year old 13" MBP which is connected to a similar display. That should be tell you all you need to know!

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MacBook Pro with Retina display to imac

Hi
Can i connect a MacBook Pro with Retina display to a mid 2010 imac 27" ? in ANY way? to use as a second screen... HDMI to mini display.. ive a feeling i know the answer but its worth asking.....
thanks!

Ha, "their" my teenagers would certainly point that out.
"true to say the imac isn't the most upgrade friendly"
Well it's just taking that front glass and the LCD off. The earlier ones had the hidden latches and the special tool to release it. "Took quite a technique to remove it. I just did one where someone had just broken the latch and glued it back.
"i just replaced the dvd drive, i could never go back to mechanical."
That's for sure. As soon as I put my first SSD in this early 2011 MBP 13" I realized that there was a reason why all the Airs could get buy with just 2 or 4 GB RAM.
"currently budget isn't an issue"
That must be nice.
"this is testament to apple - there is no way a pc would have held up this well,"
Yes, I'm still using a 20" and 2 22" ADC Apple Cinema Monitors on my workbench w/ a 2002 Power Mac MDD G4, a 2011 Mini i5 and a 2006 iMac. There's a working SE and IIfx in the closet.
" initial pain of purchase"
Yup that IIfx originally cost $9,900 in 1990. I got it for half price!
There's a 27" iMac for sale here in the NW. I'm looking at it to replace the Core 2 Duo.
"imac is still a great machine with a georgeous screen"
Yup until last year I administered 88 PCs at a charter school. I found looking at those displays and jittery windows all day long really irritating. Of course I'd try to "2 finger scroll" and use "Gestures" to move to a new desktop until I remembered "Oh right, PC, crap."
Good luck and thanks for the checkmark.

How do I use my Macbook Air with a display?

I wish to use the display with the Macbook Air. The screen on the MBA is too small for home use so I want to use the display instead. How do I do this? It's awkward to type on the MBA keyboard and then look at the display next to the MBA.
However I want to keep the MBA as my main computer because I like to use the MBA outside my home a lot. So that is why I do not buy an iMac.
I also do not want to go to the trouble of syncing a Macbook Air and an iMac.
I figured if I can use the hard drive on the MBA and then use the cinema display to show everything like my LCD screen that would be great.
How can I get around the problem of awkward placement on my desk?
Can I buy a keyboard and will that prevent the need to type using the MBA's keyboard?
I plan on replacing my old MBA with the new MBA that has two USB ports.
Will the separate keyboard and display fit into a USB hub? I need to keep one hub free on the MBAir for the USB ethernet.
Is it just a matter of plugging the cinema display and keyboard into the MBA and then just typing away, using the MBA's hard drive?
I do not know how this will work.
Thanks for any explanation.

I figured if I can use the hard drive on the MBA and then use the cinema display to show everything like my LCD screen that would be great.
<http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131>
Can I buy a keyboard and will that prevent the need to type using the MBA's keyboard?
Yes.
Will the separate keyboard and display fit into a USB hub? I need to keep one hub free on the MBAir for the USB ethernet.
There are two USB ports on the display. Use one for ethernet and one for the keyboard (a USB mouse can plug into the keyboard).
Is it just a matter of plugging the cinema display and keyboard into the MBA and then just typing away, using the MBA's hard drive?
Yes. Or you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse.
<http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC184LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&mco=MTMzNzg5MDM>
<http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB829LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&mco=MTMzNzY2NTE>
<http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC380LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&mco=MTg1ODE3MDE>

Macbook Air - using Cinema Display usb and firewire?

Hello,
This is the first post for me, however the answer will determine whether I make the jump for an air.
Will the usb hub on the cinema displays work with the macbook air dvi output connector. (essential for me to purchase) would firewire work (bonus if it does)
Unfortunately I have to have ethernet connection because of the setup in my office, and some of the software I use has usb hardware dongles. The ethernet adapter is fine but I also need usb.
When I am on the go the single usb will suffice.
Any advice would be really appreciated.

USB hub works fine on my 23 Cinema display with the Air, haven't tried the others but I use the USB on display to plug in my mobile broadband ( live out in the sticks and don't get cable or DSL ) and it lets me switch between my Air and MB Pro fine.

Using my macbook alternately with cinema display and without makes all my screens shift and change in size ?!

After I disconnect from the cinema display and than a few minutes later open up the macbook without the display connected, things are fine. But re-connecting to the display, all the screens are moved and/or changed in size. Anybody any ideas ?

I'm currently sitting in my office using my MBP and looking at a 24" Samsung display. At home I replaced my 4 year old iMac with a 2 year old 13" MBP which is connected to a similar display. That should be tell you all you need to know!

MacBook Pro with Cinema Display - No Picture

I have a 2.16 Core Duo Macbook Pro 17". Today I purchased a 30" Cinema Display at the Apple store.
Because of issues I had heard about I had the Apple employees help me open the box and plug in the monitor to a Macbook Pro on the floor to check for dead and hot pixels and other screen problems. None found. I was so psyched!
I get it home and set it up. I run the DVI cable over to my Macbook Pro and nothing... The MBP screen goes blue and then refreshes when the monitor is attached or detached like it detects it, but under system profiler it never registers an additional display (and I did refresh the info). The soft power button on the Cinema Display triggers my computer to give me the shut down/sleep dialog so something is registering.
Basically everything works on the display but the picture. I just get a black screen. I hooked up my wife's G4 1.67 and it drives the screen just fine with a picture.
Any thoughts?

Turned out it was a bad DVI port on my Macbook Pro. Logic board replaced and issue fixed.

Why can't I shut macbook air when cinema display is connected?

I just upgraded from an older MacBook Pro to a new MacBook Air. I have an older Cinema Display that I want to use with the new MacBook Air. I can get the Cinema Display to mirror what's on the macbook air screen, but I would like to be able to shut the MacBook Air and just use it like a desktop computer when its connected to the display (I have an apple bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse). Every time I shut the MacBook Air it shuts down and the Cinema Display goes black. I had no problem getting it to work the way I wanted with my old MacBook Pro. Any wisdom on this? Thanks!

Is the computer connected to AC power?
<https://support.apple.com/HT201834>

Macbook Air and Cinema Display

I am looking to purchase a cinema display for the mac book air and am curious which size would be best to use? I'm going for biggest and per specifications the 23" looks like it would work but with possible resolution loss. I am trying to avoid the resolution loss but want the biggest size. Again, I am looking for the best cinema to go with the mac book air without major quality loss.
Thank you.

user65 wrote:
On the specs it states 1280x800 is the max resolution. So if mirroring is off it will output a much higher resolution?
You only read the part of the video specs that's about the internal monitor. Only the internal monitor is limited to 1280x800. Further down there is a section that says
Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
It will drive the 23" no problem. The only Apple monitor the MacBook Air can't drive at full res is the big 30".
Apple doesn't organize the video portion of the tech specs all that well, so whenever you check the tech specs page for an Apple product with external video, be sure to locate both the internal and external display specs.

Restarting MacBook pro with cinema display and lid closed?

Is it possible to restart the macbook pro with its lid closed when it is hooked to an apple 20" cinema display?
I have a 15" macbook pro 2.33GHz and want to be able to use it like a desktop system with just the external display when I am at home.
Also should I worry about heat issues running it with the lid closed sitting on the wood desk top?
Thanks

Thanks, I just realized that I phrased my question rather badly.
My real problem is how to start my computer without opening up the lid. I have a stand on my desk that the display is on and the macbook slides under when it's closed. Having to unplug it and pull it out every time it is shut down and needs to be started is rather a pain. The button on the side of the display seems to work for sleep/restart/shut down, but it doesn't seem to be able to start the computer once it is shut down; so my question is, is this possible?... am I dreaming?
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Macbook air with thunderbolt display - windows stuck on air's display

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Despite the lid being closed (and never having been opened after waking from sleep/connecting the Thunderbolt Display) the Displays control panel still sees that display as active.
I cannot find a way of moving the windows back to the main screen unless I'm lucky enough to grab the right spot to move the windows to the larger display.
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I have no idea where that dirt came from. I really have no clue what it is, and it won't go away by blowing in it. I will contact local authorized store (there is no Apple stores in Croatia) but I highly doubt they'll be able to do anything without taking the laptop apart. Although I highly doubt it could it be rust from cleaning my MBP? I always put a couple drops of water on cloth I clean my macbook casing with. I have no idea if I am going to be able to do anything at all because the gap is really small, pin couldn't get to that dirt. I don't know what that could be, I never eat or drink close to my mac. Just my luck. What's Q Tip? Never heard of it since I live in Croatia

When do Apple is going to launch the new MacBook Air with ratina display

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Does any body has an idea about that...

Saeed ~ Welcome to the Support Communities.
dominic23 wrote:
I have no idea.
And I have no idea either. ...Anyone else have no idea?

What cable connects my macbook air to cinema display?

I want to connect the HD dislpay to my Macbook air... what cable is my best choice?

The new Airs have mini displayport connectors. I don't know what ports your monitor has, but if it has an HDMI input you can use a mini-DP to HDMI adaptor (these are available from Apple) and then a regular HDMI cable to connect to the screen. Similarly, a mini-DP to DVI adaptor and DVI cable if that's the port you have on your monitor.
Matt

Macbook Air with Retina display

When I plug in headphones or speakers to the computer, it sounds more on one side. Why? And it's not the speaker or the headphones that are broken, it works well when you connect them to your mobile.

Hello Wendy,
Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing when playing audio from speakers or headphones. You can adjust the sound balance through System Preferences:
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, and then click Output.
Select the sound output device you’re using.
Drag the Balance slider left to hear the sound more through the left speaker, or right to shift the sound to the right speaker.
OS X Mountain Lion: Change the sound balance
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10826
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

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How can I connect a MacBook Air with the old Micro DVI to the new 24" Cinema display? What adapter do I need or is it simply not possible? Thanks.

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Mac OS is the operating system for Mac computers.
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Help! MacBook Air with Cinema Display or iMac?

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