I want to hook up my mid 2010 imac 27 inch as a display to my mid 2011 Macbook Air to act as an external display. The iMac doesn't have a TB port but does have a mini display port, but the Macbook Air does have a TB port. What cable is needed, and how can I use the set up with the lid closed on the MBA?
Do I need to do anything special to use the wireless KB and Mouse for the iMac?
MacBook Air
It won't work that way.
The two options you have are...
1) Starting the MBA in Target Mode (via a FireWire connection).
2) Screen Sharing, meaning you "remotely manage" the MBA from the iMac (via some network connection, with an Apple ID and Back To My Mac even over the Internet).
Hi there, thanks for the suggestions
Not sure I understand the first option you suggest, iMac 201 has Firewire but 2011 Macbook AIr only has Thunderbolt and USB??
Screen Sharing I am aware of, will this work if the lid is closed on the Macbook Air?
I recently read an article on CNET by Topher Kessler explaining the possible confusion caused and the backwards compatibility of Thunderbolt and Display Port.
See here: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20043524-263.html
This seemed to indicate a thunderbolt connection hooked to a display port (macbook air to iMac) would work but not using a display port connection to a thunderbolt device (ie ext HDD)
On both Target Mode and Screen Sharing there's a lot on the web including Apple's pages. Please refer to that and save us from re-writing manuals here... 😉
Again, the iMac has no "graphics input" to use its display with another Mac like an external monitor, so even though your interpretation as per your last paragraph is correct, it is not relevant.
Whilst I am aware there is much written about using Target Mode and the use of Screen Sharing, which you have duplicated in your own answer, there are also people on the web who would seem to disagree with your opinion of not being able to use the iMac as an external monitor for a Macbook/Macbook Air (which is what I was rerferring to)
You made no response to the link posted in regard to this
So at the risk of appearing obtuse, perhaps you could point to a 'manual' that explains all this, then this would save you the bother of having to yourself.😐
Very useful for those wishing to remotely control another Mac from another (which wasnt my original question)
😎
For those interested in what I was ACTUALLY after
Oh bummer. Only that Screen Sharing not only enables one Mac (incl iMacs) to act as display for another (incl MBA's), not only that it works without special expensive cables but over ANY network connection in between the two, even wireless, even from anywhere in the world (incl the same house) over the Internet, no, it even offers the luxury of the one Mac (incl iMacs) to be further usable as such.
But too bad this wasn't asked for. Admittedly, it's too good. Back to buying new cables and forgetting about the iMac for as long as the MBA is used.
Good luck.
Hooking up mid 2010 iMac to mid 2011 Macbook Air
