How do I use a MacBook with a Thunderbolt Display?

I have a new Thunderbolt Display which I use with a new Mac Mini. If possible, I would like to attach my 2008 era MacBook to the Thunderbolt Display to take advantage of the bigger screen. I understand that MacBook doesn't have Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt Display requires it, but...isn't there maybe, just maybe, some sort of Thunderbolt to USB2 cable or something that might make this work?
Help me, Obi-won, you are my only hope.

There are Thunderbolt adapters you can use for the type of video port on your MB:
Display
1 - Mini-DVI (VGA, Composite and S-video with adapter)
But you may need to upgrade its OS X version at least to Snow Leopard.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mavericks if your computer meets the requirements.
     Snow Leopard General Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
       2. 1GB of memory
       3. 5GB of available disk space
       4. DVD drive for installation
       5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
           fees may apply.
       6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
           terms apply.

Similar Messages

  • HT4885 how do i use a macbookpro with  a thunderbolt display and have an external projector

    I bought the latest macbook pro with a 500 gig solid state drive 8 gig ram etc and a thunderbolt display, is use it with lappy lid down and external key  board and mouse, so like an imac or tower. i want to add a matrox 3 display splitter in line to have 1-3 projectors for film and vj etc.
    i can add it straight out of the lappy as one would expect, but now i find after vast expense i can only add another thuderbolt display out of the display port on the thunderbolt display!.
    This is such a scam from mac.......what are they playing with. Is there any good solutions out there. I spend alot of money and can cant use projection and a thunderbolt display at same time......very disapointed on this one.....its a postitive backward progression on there part.....
    its fine on the road, but doing mxed media presentaions from my work place is now not possible with my lovely big display as well.
    there must be a away round this.....Am i being dumb.
    thanks for any help in advance.
    cheers

    Here's what apple documents on the limitiations of chaining with TB displays:
    Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch): Connection options for Thunderbolt Macs

  • How can I get a MacBook with a dead display to display to an HDMI monitor upon bootup?

    I have a MacBook with a dead display that I'd like to use as a desktop.  I also have a 23" monitor with VGA and HDMI input.  I am using the DVI adapter on the MacBook, and a DVI to HDMI converter to connect to the monitor.  The problem is that when it boots, it's extending the desktop over onto the monitor rather than mirroring or using that as the primary display, which is unhelpful.
    Is there a way to get it to use the external HDMI monitor as the primary? 
    Do I need to buy a mimi-DVI to VGA adapter to accomplish this?
    I know this works if I connect the MacBook to a monitor with DVI input.  The problem is that my only options are VGA or HDMI for my current monitor.
    Thanks!

    Yes. Use a Mini DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adapter.
    (71350)

  • Using my Macbook with an external display

    I would like to buy this 23" LED display:
    http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/LG-E2360V-PN-23-inch-1080p-LED-Monitor-Refu rbished/5610316/product.html?TID=CartLayer
    I currently have a Macbook 13" aluminum unibody with the Mini Display Port. I'm not sure what cable connector and adaptor I would need to use this monitor to its best potential. HDMI? DVI? DVI-D? VGA?? I have never set up an external display before.
    I would also like to be able to use the wireless keyboard and magic mouse. I would like my Macbook to act as the brains and have it closed sitting under my desk connected to my display and wirelessly use my keyboard and mouse over bluetooth. Is this type of set up possible?

    HDMI and DVI will give you the best picture. Here's the various types of Mini DisplayPort adapters on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=min i-dvi&x=9&y=13#/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_2_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mini+ displayport&sprefix=mini+displayport&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amini+displayport
    Yes you can use it in clamshell mode http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131
    After you get your MacBook connected to the monitor and both screens working in System Preferences>Display there should be an Arrangement tab on the MacBook screen. Do you see two monitors side by side? One of them will have a Menu Bar at the top. Just click on the Menu Bar and drag it to the second monitor. That will make the second monitor your main screen. When you disconnect from the monitor your Menu Bar and Dock will automatically change back to the MacBook.

  • Using my MacBook with a broken display on my tv please help!

    My MacBook Pro has a broken display. I want to use it on my tv but when I plug it in using an hdmi I cable all I get on my tv is my wallpaper. I have read that I need to take my macbook out of extended desktop mode to actually use it this way but I obviously can't. Can Apple wirelessly do this? I don't feel like spending 20 dollars to schedule a call if they can't.

    Radwilkins wrote:
    Nothing's happening just the click of my volume going down. Pretty frustrating I can see my cursor on the screen and everything do you know if they can do it at the apple store?
    You're holding down the fn key and then pressing F11 at the same time?

  • How to connect your hdmi tv to the Thunderbolt display?

    Hello,
    I've just got my Thunderbotl display which is really nice, but i have question and i hope this would be possible.
    How to connect an external display, in my case the HDMI tv to the thunderbolt display?
    The connection would looks something like this:
    Macbookpro (late 2011 15') -> Thunderbolt cable -> Thunderbolt display -> Thunderbolt to hdmi adapter -> HDMI Display
    But currently i cannot get any screen on my hdmi display (it remeans black).
    p.s. runing latest version of OS X
    Thanks

    <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219>
    See secrions 14 and 16.
    If your MacBook Pro does support two external displays you may be able to use your TV with a Thunderbolt display.  While a Mini DisplayPort adapter won't work plugged directly into a Thunderbolt display, it will work if a Thunderbolt drive is connected between the displays.  This reportedly works with Seagate GoFlex drives.  LaCie drives don't work plugged into Thunderbolt displays.

  • How can I use my Macbook as a dual monitor with my iMac?

    How can I use my Macbook as a dual monitor with my iMac?

    Then you want to use what's called Target Display Mode.
    iMac (Mid 2011)- Target Display Mode does not work with Mini DisplayPort cable
    Target Display Mode And Thunderbolt

  • How do I use my macbook pro lid closed

    How do I use my macbook pro lid closed?

    Well what i'm trying to do is keep file sharing on while macBook is closed so i can access files through "newtwok" (Back to my mac) with my imac...
    Ideally i would then control my macBook with screen sharing on my imac while the MacBook is stored behind my iMac...
    Somehow it worked before but now it stopped...and everytime i close the lid ..mac book pro goes black screen and completly disconnects from the newtwork...
    Everything works fine with lid open..
    I am trying to do this because i have a new imac with thunderbold and an older macbook pro with mini display port..and as you might already know...you canot connect these thow devices using thunderbolt cable...which really *****....there is also no adaport enabling this...and i really dont need to buy another mac book that just has one more hole in it >.<
    Anyway..hope there is a solution somewhere to keep file sharing going while lid down..
    regards remo

  • I have recently update to the OS Maverik and I use a projector with a mini display port adaptor to my MacBook Air, ever since the only thing that projects is my desktop picture.  I cannot get it to project my school work that I need to teach my students.

    I have recently update to the OS Maverik and I use a projector with a mini display port adaptor to my MacBook Air, ever since the only thing that projects is my desktop picture.  I cannot get it to project my school work that I need to teach my students. Help!

    Hi Becki514,
    Welcome to the Support Communities!
    The following articles may help you with your projector issue:
    Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1573
    Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3382
    Mac notebooks: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131
    I hope this information helps ....
    Have a great day!
    - Judy

  • How can I use Pegasus R6 with Mac mini?

    I bought Pegasus R6 (Promise Technology, Inc). I connected to my Mac mini. But Pegasus R6 did not appear on desktop. In order to use Pegasus, MacBook Pro?iMac must have MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update installed. But Mac mini does not have EFI Firmware Update. How can I use Pegasus R6 with Mac mini?

    Does your Mac Mini have thunderbolt?

  • How can i use my macbook as a server

    How can i use my macbook as the server of my home network?

    Depends on what you want to do with it. To operate as a full fledged "Server" you will need OSX Server Edition software. For simple server operations like file sharing, you can just adjust the sharing options in your preferences.

  • TS4055 How do I use my MacBook Air to access the Amazon Web Service?

    How do I use my MacBook Air to access AWS (Amazon web Service)?  The information provided to me by Apple Care seems to be about allowing outside access to my MacBook.

    Sorry, but does this relate to Apple Remote Desktop, Apple's software for managing networked Macs, in some way? If so, how are you using ARD in relation to Amazon's services?

  • How do I use my ipad with Apple TV?

    How do i use my iPad2 with Apple TV?

    If it's an ATV2 or 3, you can use AirPlay. AirPlay automatically becomes available when the two devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
    HOWEVER! You should be aware of that AirPlay is, in some circumstances, far inferior to VGA / HDMI-cabled solutions. Please see my posts at https://discussions.apple.com/message/18697551?ac_cid=sa123456#18697551 for more info.

  • How do I use my MacBook Pro to watch exactly what my digital cable box would send to my TV?

    How do I use my MacBook Pro to watch exactly what my digital cable box would send to my TV?

    You could use Elgato Systems' EyeTV product to view external video sources on your MBP.
    There is additional cost involved, but it would achive what you want. You can buy the Hybrid product, and connect your external DVD player via Composite (red, white and yellow connectors) to your MBP via the EyeTV.
    http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvhybridna&PHPSESSID=3c4e16afe5 0303162b285a6f70791f86

  • How do I use my Macbook pro retina display as a monitor for a PC?

    How do I use my Macbook pro retina display as a monitor for a PC?

    MacQueries wrote:
    How do I use my Macbook pro retina display as a monitor for a PC?
    Unfortunately, that is not possible. The computer only can "output" your display image, it cannot "input" an image from an external computer and display it on your MacBook's retina display.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Parsing XML from a CLOB

    I was trying to check the well-formedness of XML in a CLOB. I have an xml file called Claim77804.xml. I was working on Building Oracle XML applications by Steve Muench. I created the procedure and it was created succesfully but it does not do what it

  • How to use iTunes COM SDK to set Media Kind for tracks

    There is no obvious function to set Media Kind of a track from iTunes COM SDK. Just curious if anyone knows how to do it programmatically?

  • My mail account is set up correctly but will not receive or send email?

    My outlook email account works fine and it has automatically synchronised the set up / account information to my iphone 4s via itunes when syncing. However I cannot receive or send emails! Anyone know of the reason for this?

  • Font panel doesn't appear in mail

    Hello everyone I can't change the fonts in e-mails because the font panel doesn't appear. When I try to show the font panel by selecting "show fonts" from the menu "format", the text in the menu does change to "hide fonts" but the panel still doesn't

  • Upgrading from Forms 4.5 to Forms 6i DOC's

    Can anyone send me the doc's for Upgrading from Forms 4.5 to Forms 6i at [email protected]