Use laptop as a display for desktop?

is there a way i can hook my laptop to be a monitor, keyboard, and mouse for my desktop?

Hi Trilasertops,
The solution I am proposing effectively turns your desktop computer into an external Firewire drive for your laptop.
You would be using the system installed on the desktop to run the laptop.
You would be constrained by the performance limitations of the laptop, plus there may be system clashes due to the different ways in which the operating systems are installed on each computer.
If you have any peripherals hooked to the desktop, you access to these via the laptop may be restricted.
However, if it works, it means that your are controlling the desktop drive from your laptop.
USB keyboards (especially secondhand ones) aren't really that expensive. Maybe that would be a better (simpler) way for your to go.
Cheers!
Karl

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How can connect my macbook pro mid 2012 to my imac 21.5 inch mid 2010 ?? I want to use imac like a display for macbook.

How can connect my macbook pro mid 2012 to my imac 21.5 inch mid 2010 ?? I want to use imac like a display for macbook.

Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
with a mini display to mini display cable. Attach it to the Thunderbolt port on your MBP and to the mini display port on your iMac.
How do I enable TDM?
Make sure both computers are turned on and awake.
Connect a male-to-male Mini DisplayPort or ThunderBolt cable to each computer.
Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of the iMac being used as a display to enable TDM.
Note: In Keyboard System Preferences, if the checkbox is enabled for "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard functions keys," the key combination changes to Command-Fn-F2.

I have an imac bought late 2013, can i use it as a display for the new mac pro? I also want to use windows 8 on it, would this work with parallels or bootcamp?

I have an imac bought late 2013, can i use it as a display for the new mac pro? I also want to use windows 8 on it, would this work with parallels or bootcamp?

Yes, it supports target display mode. Windows can be run with either Parallels or Boot Camp.

I have an imac bought late 2013, can i use it as a display for the new mac pro running windows 8 through bootcamp?

I have an imac bought late 2013, can i use it as a display for the new mac pro running windows 8 through bootcamp?

No. Target Display mode is only supported when connected to a Mac running 10.6 or later.
It cannot be used with a PC, bootcamp, gamaing console, cable box, DVR or PowerPC Mac.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3924

Using a iMac as display for the Powerbook?

Can an iMAC computer be used as a display for the Powerbook laptop? Could I use the iMac keyboard plugged into the Powerbook and maybe the iMac mouse as well?

Does ScreenRecycler do what you want?
(43378)

Using iMac as a display for MacBook Pro?

I understand that the new iMacs can be used as external displays but can not find any information on how this works. Is it just a matter of connecting a MacBook Pro to the iMac and hitting a key? Also, what cables do I need to get this to work?
Thanks
Tony
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Hey, I just got my 27" iMac last week and can verify that this works, as of a few minutes ago. I used the cable that converts from DisplayPort (the end that plugs into the iMac) and the mini DisplayPort (the end that connects to the MacBook Pro.
Plugged in the cable and the iMac screen flashed gray for a second, indicating, I guess, that the iMac had detected the external device. Then I could toggle it over with the Cmd-F2 keyboard trick. When you toggle it on, the iMac screen looks like a giant second monitor for the MacBook Pro. When you toggle it off, the screen switches back to your regular iMac desktop. When I first connected the cable, the MacBook screen dimmed briefly with an overlayed thermometer bar I hadn't seen before indicated some sort of calibration, perhaps? That took a few seconds, then it worked like a charm.
HOWEVER, if you are expecting the iMac to function as a second display for another device (like a PC, for example), the same trick DOES NOT work. This isn't clear in the documentation on apple.com and even some of the people in the Apple Store who I spoke to when I was buying it had not much clue about this, other than that it would work with a MacBook Pro. There's another device required (evidently) to make this work. Have had to order it, but have not tried it yet:
http://lowendmac.com/ed/bashur/09db/dvi-to-mini-displayport.html
Hope this helps!

Possible to use iPad as a display for iPhone?

i have a wifi-only iPad 3 and an iPhone 5 (no tethering plan). i'm wondering if it is possible to connect the two via cable and use the iPad as a display for the iPhone while i am driving.

Hi symh,
Why not simply use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection. You can download it free here <--- clickety clicky
Once you install it on your Mac you can connect to your PC and run it from your iMac. It's pretty straightforward to set up.
Kryten

Using tv as external display for MacBook Air?

Does anyone know how to use a 21.5" Samsung LED TV with 1920x1080 resolution as the external display for a MacBook Air A1369 running OS X 10.6.8 (broken screen)?

I guess you have to buy a Belkin HDMI routing cable. From Thunderbolt/Display port to HDMI.
Then plug it in to your macbook and into your tv. Then press CMD+F1 and voila.
If you still have any problems, i like to hear from you.

Using 27" iMac as display for a gaming PC

Before anyone rips me to ribbons for wanting to use an iMac as a display for a windows PC, let me explain my situation: I need to upgrade my 2007 iMac and I was looking at the 27" iMac. I would like use it as a monitor for my gaming PC when I'm not using it as a Mac because I barely have enough room on my desk for my old iMac and gaming PC monitor as it is. A 27" iMac will take up my whole desk and won't fit with any other monitor. I'd just get a bigger desk, but my studio apartment is too small and cluttered for one.
I know there is the Atlona DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter, but after hours of searching, I could only find articles saying "it should work with PC" not "I tested it and it does work with PC. Here are some pictures as proof". I'm not willing to spend that much on something that might work.
I was wondering if anyone knew of a site that gave proof that the Atlona DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter worked the way I hope it does? or does someone know of something coming out in the near future that would allow what I need?

I have exactly the same problem and have been scouring the forums to find an answer. Hoping to use my shiny big iMac as a display for my gaming PC which only has a DVI output. From what I've read I get the impression the answer is currently no (some problem specific to the 27" iMacs from what I can make out), but out of interest have you had any luck with this??
The only answer I can find round this at the moment (if the converter you mention doesn't work) is to get a new graphics card with a DisplayPort output - still weighing up whether to splash out on a new one and what the chances are of me screwing up my PC if I try installing it myself!!

Using iMac 27inch as display for PC

Hi
I have been looking into this on and off for months now and I can see within this forum this has been asked before although it appears to be a few years old.
I have a mid 2010 imac with the mini display port and from what I have read this will support target display mode.
Ideally I would like a cable that would allow me to attach my PC's graphics card (DVI) to the mini display port but it seems this could be expensive and also may not provide a good resolution.
I am trying to locate a low - mid range graphics card for my PC that will connect to the iMac to use as a display in full resolution. The help I have seen appears to be out dated so I was wondering if anyone is currently doing this and suggest some hardware I can use.
Thanks for any help offered. Would really love to get this set up.

You have to look for a GPU with Mini DisplayPort. This is the only way of being able to use your Mid 2010 27-inch iMac as an external display.
After getting it, connect the GPU to the PC and get a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect the GPU to the iMac. Then, press Command and F2 keys to enable Target Display mode. For more information about Target Display mode > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Note that the option to use your iMac as an external display for a PC is not officially supported, so it may not work

Use 2008 iMac as display for dvi vga pc

I Am building a pc and I would like to use my early 2008 imac as a display for a DVI and VGA output motherboard. I have read MILLIONS of questions on Target Mode and know as well as my name that iMacs older than 2011 cannot be used with Target display mode.I put target mode Earlier because of my iPad's incompetence with this website. In fact I can't edit anything I type in this question on my iPad. Annoying.
CAn I use FireWire to connect my iMac to my dvi or VGA pc output? My iMac also has a mini display port but I'm guessing that is an output only. Maybe there's a solution involving TINKERING or going inside the imac. You can guess my warranty is over since it's 2014.
SO any solutions to connect iMac to pc as a display Except using target display mode and thunderbolt which is IMPOSSIBLE with my prehistoric Mac.
Very sorry about the bad formatting but my iPad cannot edit any text I've already typed on this page, as I've already mentioneD. Just like a typewriter!

Sorry but a 2008 iMac simply does not have that capability, the only solution available to you is using an outdated app called Screen Recycler. You will probably be disappointed in the performance though.

Using 27in iMac as display for Mac Pro (both latest models)

I'm in need of using my new 27in iMac (current 2012 model) as the display for my current 2012 Mac Pro. As you probably know, the mac pro has 1 DVI port, 2 mini display port, and some firewire ports. The iMac has 1 firewire port and 2 thunderbolt ports. Both units have USB 2.0 obviously. I found that the new iMac doesn't support target disk mode with non-thunderbolt machines so that won't work. I wonder if there is a way to use these other connections to enable my mac pro to display on the imac. Any suggestions?
(My latest wonder is if I can upgrade the video card in the mac pro with a card that has thunderbolt outputs?)

That is a subtle distinction, but I think you are right.
Use an iMac with Thunderbolt as a display
If you have an iMac with Thunderbolt, any other Mac with Thunderbolt can use it as a display. The iMac will play both the video and audio from the other Mac.
Connect the Thunderbolt cable to the Thunderbolt ports on each computer.
Make sure both Mac computers are turned on and awake.
Press Command (⌘)-F2 on the keyboard of the external display Mac.
If you want the external display Mac to play audio as well as video from the primary Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, and then click Output. Select the external display Mac from the list of devices.

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

Using imac as external display for my MacBook

Can I use the new iMac as an external display for my MacBook?

Here's the >New iMac Spec's and there is only Mini-DVI output port and "NO" input port.

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http://www.screenrecycler.com/home.html

Use laptop as a display for desktop?

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