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User profile for user: Jun Heo
Jun Heo Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Using a 27-inch iMac (Mid 2012) as an external display?

As I have been using MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) and Mac Air (Mid 2011) for business purpose, I wanna use them working at home.


I really expected that there was new cinema display with Retina display, but there wasn't. However, New iMac looks really nice & I would love to buy it.


But Using a 27-inch iMac(Mid 2012) as an external display is one of my important required function to buy it.

What do you think? is a 27-inch iMac (Mid 2012) able to use target display mode?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 24, 2012 8:48 AM

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4 replies
User profile for user: thedoor1
thedoor1
User level: Level 1
0 points

Nov 8, 2012 5:38 PM in response to AnTsMoOrE

I have been using my 2010 iMac 27" as an external display from a windows laptop. Since the recent update, I can no longer receive the signal on the mini-display port. Have software updates prevented this even for older Macs?


It was excellent for using my work laptop at home.


Now, when I plug the laptop into the iMac, it recognizes there is a display, "tries" to show the display, and then reverts to Mac OS 10.7.5.

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User profile for user: Max Stanley
Max Stanley
User level: Level 1
10 points

Mar 19, 2013 4:34 PM in response to Jun Heo

there's a lot of misinformation so far here. Yes you can use all the 27-inch iMacs as external displays.

However there a few problems.


2009-2010 27-inch iMacs can only work with Apple computers that have the Mini-DisplayPort.


2011-2012 21-inch and 27-inch iMacs can only work as a display with Macs that have thunderbolt ports.


so as long as your 2011 MBA has thunderbolt, the new one will do fine. your 2010 MBP will not be able to use the iMac as a display.

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Using a 27-inch iMac (Mid 2012) as an external display?

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