Connect old MacBook to Thunderbolt LED Display?

I would love to know the same thing!

Same question. Please do an official KB article on that! I have 2010 MBP Core i7.

Thank you in advance!

Hello Apple!!!

Please answer!!!!

I called Apple Support about that and they told me that there will be a solution (an adapter) to connect it - "for sure".

(To be honest - I'm not sure whether this information is reliable.)

But - where is it, when will it come, ....????

Apple please answer!

Thanks.

Idon't think Apple will release an adapter. Your computer simply doesn't have the technology required to deliver data over MDP. If you take a look at the tech specs, it even says that you need Thunderbolt to use the display. My guess is that you'll get audio and video but the ports on the back won't work. You're probably better off with the Cinema Display since it is more compatible and the only differences are the ports and the FaceTime HD camera.

That's really funny...now if you want to buy a display at Apple Store and have a MCP without thunderbolt technology, you simply can't because they won't sell it anymore which means you have to buy a new computer. This is a joke!

I'm pretty sure they'll continue to sell both side by side. The shipping estimates are still the same and other major retail outlets still have them in stock. There's no indication that they'll discontinue it anytime soon. Even if they did, you could always get a refurbished one online.

And what if on next year you decide to upgrade your mac? Then you would have to also buy a new display? that doesn't sound a very clever solution to me. After all, it is not everyday one happens to have a thousand pounds to spend on a new display.

So if anyone is like me and have a mid 2010 i7 macbook pro, you certainly would feel really bad about buying a display which is compatible with the this laptop, because you know if you decide to upgrade it on 2012 or 2013 then you also would have to upgrade your display. This is really nonsense.

The Apple LED Cinema Display still supports Thunderbolt equippted Macs. The only differences is that the Thunderbolt Display has 1 less wire, a better camera, and more ports on the back. Other than that they both function exactly the same.

that's good to know then...thanks for the information royalcaribbean101

No problem at all! If you need any more help feel free to ask.

I just spoke to Apple about this, as I wanted to purchase the new Thunderbolt display for my current model (i.e. mini display port) Mac Pro. Apple confirmed the new display will NOT work with any mini display port macs.

They lost a sale, as I would want to future-proof my new display, and I have no intention of paying the same money for the lesser cinema display. Dumb Apple!

My Thunderbolt display just arrived and I tried to use it with my mid 2010 15" macbook pro (non-thundebolt model) and the MBpro could not detect the display. The diaplay works fine on my new Macbook Air (with Thunderbolt port).

The specs page of the ThunderBolt Display directly states that it requires a ThunderBolt-enabled computer. It won't work when connected to a MiniDisplay Port computer.

ThunderBolt ports are backwards compatible with MiniDisplay Port devices.

MiniDisplay Port-enabled computers are not forwards compatible with ThunderBolt devices (and really can you expect it?)

Just like Smudge was saying... here's a new article that covers most of the questions about the Thunderbolt Display and various configuration connections!!!

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/18/thunderbolt-display-daisy-chaining-spec-cleared-u p/

I wonder though. If you would have an adapter that splits up the data and the video, would that make it work?

Thunderbolt is compatible with USB, so let's say the adapter has bideirectional support for thunderbolt and USB and directional for Minidisplayport.

This way you can connect your older macbook with Minidsiplayport whil the USB connects the data and the devices attached to the ports on the back.

The only thing you would loose is the Firewire and the Daisy chain for Thunderbolt.

I haven't found such an adapter yet, but if you find something on the net, I'd like to find out.

Cheers