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How do I use my iMac as an external display?

Posted on October 23, 2012 on 1:51 pm by Jen.

Around here, discussions get a little heated when the word “Apple” is mentioned. It’s definitely a love or hate thing, there’s no in between. So you’ll understand my hesitation to admit that, as a creative professional, I’m an Apple lover. It started with my cute little white 2005 MacBook in my college days (except not so cute when the palm rests became discolored and the plastic started cracking–I feel I need to add that Apple was awesome about fixing it without giving me any problems), replaced with a 2009 iMac after graduation (I figured I wouldn’t need to lug a laptop around class anymore), and then a MacBook Pro in 2011 (after I realized I still needed to take my work with me on the road and really didn’t want to transport the iMac around).

I’ve (sort of) found alternate uses for my old Apple devices because they are still working after all. My MacBook was given to my dad who uses it in his office…to collect dust, and my iMac is used as my home desktop…to watch Netflix…while I work on my laptop. So while I am an Apple lover, I’d like to consider myself an Apple realist as well. I’m not ignorant to the fact that these devices come with a hefty price tag and would certainly like to continue using them while in perfect working condition.

I’ve done enough googling to know that there are many consumers like me who own more than one Apple device, in particular, an early 2009 iMac and newer MacBook Pro, and had the brilliant idea to use the iMac as an extended display. At the same time, I know there are also many consumers like me who have searched and searched to no avail for a how-to, believing this would be an easy task since both devices are equipped with Mini DisplayPort, where the only frustration would be the high price tag of a little cable to achieve this. But NOPE. Only late-2009 27″ iMacs and then 2010 all-size iMacs have the ability to receive video input–you’ll know whether or not your iMac is capable if you can find a Target Display Mode feature on your device.

The wonderful thing about having a large community of consumers is that multiple someones share your need and one of those someones is bound to develop a solution. In this particular case, one solution comes in the form of “Screen Recycler“. This program uses VNC to wirelessly connect (or wired option for better performance) your two devices, allowing you to use one computer as the workhorse and the other just for its display. While not the ideal set up, since reviews express some lag in the second display, especially for graphic intensive applications, it definitely is an affordable alternative.

I haven’t had the opportunity to test this program out yet, but I will be downloading it soon since I’m not ready to get rid of my iMac just yet. For those of you who are interested in this program, I plan to use Screen Recycler to connect a second display (my 24″ iMac) with an ethernet cable for editing photos in Lightroom, so I’ll get a good a sense of how laggy it could be, and whether it not it will work for this purpose. I’ll update with a full review on the program.

There are some other programs out there that also connect devices in a similar fashion, such as Air Display. Have you come across other programs or found any hardware workarounds for the pre-2009 iMacs? Please share!

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