Target Display Mode "Broken" on 2011 iMac

I think that what you guys are missing is that the port is bi-directional only with TB, whereas it is uni-directional output with DisplayPort. You can use a second display with your iMacs and that display can be either a new TB display or a DisplayPort display, you just cannot use TDM with DP because it is not bi-directional with DP.

Apple well knew that it was alienating its own Macs from the just the most previous refreshes with these new model iMacs as far as its TDM limitation is concerned. A bit of consumer pressure is very unlikely to sway the descision. I think anyone with info that the engineers are considering it are talking through their hat.

Your best bet is the 3rd party converter folks, if there even is tech that could beef up a straight DP signal to meet the TB signaling requirements.

BTW, the 720p limitation in TDM on the previous DP iMacs was not an iMac limitation, it was the outside signal sources limitation. Any DP Mac could power the DP iMac's display at full 1080p resolution in TDM.

I'm a new Mac "convert"... and find myself frustrated DAILY with Apple's hardware/software constraints. I bought a Belkin DP cable with plans to connect the iMac as a slave display, and indeed, my 2010 Macbook Pro, just a year old... won't even talk to my 2011 iMac at home. Seriously ~ I'm not certain I'd have even bought the iMac had I known!

Get it together Apple!

Also ~ for any of you Windows Home Media Server users out there... watch out as the new Lion OS is giving me countless headaches as I try to interface with my Windows Network!

Since it's not possible to use the Target Display option, what's the best way to access programs on my MacBook Pro? Someone mentioned remote desktop connection. What's the best program or application to take advantage of that? Thanks in advance.

You do not need an app for screen sharing on another Mac. It is built into Mac OS X nd works even better in Lion with Full Screen mode.

Ah great! Thanks Dahveed. I'm a Mac newbie and been on PC all my life so still learning..thanks so much! I'll check it out.

I just would like to add another line joining the club who would like to use the new iMac 27" 2011 as an external monitor with Target Display mode.

I actually bought a DisplayPort (my company laptop, Dell Latitude E6410 has this port) to Mini DisplayPort cable thinking that the Mini DisaplyPort will be compatible with the Thunderbolt port (I read several threads confirming this).

Now I will have to send it back as it doesn't work (I plug it in and nothing happens) and just after I found the same KB article you guys referenced above.

I really hope someone will come out with an adapter or cable soon or Apple may be able to solve this with a firmware upgrade, otherwise this will narrow down their audience for the iMacs.

Its so stupid. I am so disappointed and frustrated. Why is Thunderbolt display work with mDP but Imac 2011 doesn't?

LOL, to be frank. I read this thread when I bought the May 2011 iMac 27 in September thinking to use it as an external monitor for my PS3 since I run other games on my PC in the room. Since then there hasn't been anything solved for our tragedy.... Even contacted the customer service for the Atlona AT-HD620 because apparently it was THE solution but they said the product doesnt help at all for serving the imac as a monitor....

Thats been 2-3 months? Apple please note this issue and fix it?

Maybe we need start a petition to Apple?

What if you used a TV tuner that could take RCA? 😝

Here you are kiddies. 😉

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/products/HDHomeRun/product1.en.html

Or in my case, since I want to plug a Gamecube into my iMac

http://ca.startech.com/AV/Converters/Video/USB-S-Video-and-Composite-Audio-Video -Capture-Cable-with-TWAIN-Support~SVID2USB23

Startech is great, i have sold tons of their products.

Big lag and not progressive signal.

Wow, this *****, I just upgraded my late 2009 27" Quad Core iMac for a mid 2011 Quad Core 3.4 SSD iMac at great expense.

I could switch between my late 2009 MacMini and the old iMac via a Mini DisplayPort cable no problem at all.

Now I find out this is not possible on this new expensive iMac.

That sounds like a step backwards to me, I now have no means of displaying the output of my MacMini which seems ludicrus after the amount of money this top end iMac cost!

Wish i has found this thread! One purchased new iMac cant be used to display my work Dell E4600 Laptop as the people in the Apple Store said it would!

Seems CRAZY a Displayport cable out of my Dell and into the Thunderbolt wont work!

SORT THIS OUT!!!!

Apple,

please do something about this. Limiting the 2011 iMac to only be able to be used as a display for thunderbolt equipped Macs is arrogant and customer un-friendly.

At least make an adapter.

I found something that came very close to a solution. If you scroll down to the notes, you'll see that the 2011 iMac is not yet supported, but they're working on a model that will:

http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Link-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-USB-Pow ered.html

may be worth following...