User profile for user: Alex Rosenfeld
Alex Rosenfeld Author
User level: Level 1
59 points

Able to Dock MacBook Pro into iMac Display?

I have a MacBook Pro which I keeped docked into/connected to my Apple LED Cinema Display when I'm not on the road or at meetings outside of my office. This allows me to work with my MacBook Pro closed and with a keyboard and mouse at hand, almost as if I'm using a desktop.

My father's asked me to look into purchasing an iMac for his home, which I frequently visit. Would it be possible for me to dock my MacBook Pro into the iMac display similarly to how I can dock my MacBook Pro into my Apple LED Cinema Display? (And, if so, are there any additional accessories I need to do this?)

For example, can I close my notebook? Can I use the iMac mouse and keyboard? Can I play music on the iMac speakers? Can I use the iSight camera? I realize the iMac needs to be turned on when being connected to, which implies that the iMac operating system and programs would be running in the background, but can I basically keep the iMac operating system and programs "hidden" so that it feels like I'm purely using my MacBook Pro?


Thanks in advance,
Alex

Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Aug 12, 2010 12:13 PM

Reply
6 replies
User profile for user: EZ Jim
EZ Jim
User level: Level 7
22,590 points

Aug 12, 2010 12:46 PM in response to Alex Rosenfeld

Alex Rosenfeld wrote:
I have a MacBook Pro which I keeped docked into/connected to my Apple LED Cinema Display when I'm not on the road or at meetings outside of my office. This allows me to work with my MacBook Pro closed and with a keyboard and mouse at hand, almost as if I'm using a desktop.

My father's asked me to look into purchasing an iMac for his home, which I frequently visit. Would it be possible for me to dock my MacBook Pro into the iMac display similarly to how I can dock my MacBook Pro into my Apple LED Cinema Display? (And, if so, are there any additional accessories I need to do this?)

For example, can I close my notebook? Can I use the iMac mouse and keyboard? Can I play music on the iMac speakers? Can I use the iSight camera? I realize the iMac needs to be turned on when being connected to, which implies that the iMac operating system and programs would be running in the background, but can I basically keep the iMac operating system and programs "hidden" so that it feels like I'm purely using my MacBook Pro?


Thanks in advance,
Alex


See if sharing your screen allows all the functions you want:

  http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/11848.html




Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight
Reply
User profile for user: Rudy
Rudy
User level: Level 1
138 points

Aug 14, 2010 3:53 AM in response to Alex Rosenfeld

If your MacBook Pro has a mini-display port and you have 27" iMac, you can connect the two with a mini-display to mini=display port cable. Your MacBook Pro will see the iMac as a 27" screen.

You'll still get audio/USB etc from the MBPro. You'll need to plug the keyboard/speakers into the MBPro to use them.

The iMac will still be running, it just hands over it's display to the MBPro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YBFKDH5FhQ

Another alternative is to connect them with a firewire cable, start the MBPro in target mode and boot the iMac from the MBPro disk. Then you get all the native power of the iMac but still have your data and OS setup.

Message was edited by: Rudy
Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Able to Dock MacBook Pro into iMac Display?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up