Using 27" iMac as display for Macbook Pro

[idesign245]

Hi all,

I'm considering buying a new 27" iMac (after all the issues have been sorted out), mainly as a backup machine in case my macbook pro has to be repaired, and as an external monitor for the macbook pro. I have already bought the mini displayport to mini displayport cable from monoprice.

I discovered tonight that when you use the iMac in Target Display mode, the keyboard and mouse become unresponsive. (according to this (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924) apple support article)

I was hoping to be able to use my macbook pro in closed clamshell mode, and use the iMacs keyboard and mouse while it was being used as a display. What I'm wondering is, is that possible with the wireless keyboard and magic mouse? If not, would it work if I used a wired keyboard, and plugged it into the macbook pro instead of the iMac?

Thanks for your help.

[spinnerlys]

Hi all,

I'm considering buying a new 27" iMac (after all the issues have been sorted out), mainly as a backup machine in case my macbook pro has to be repaired, and as an external monitor for the macbook pro. I have already bought the mini displayport to mini displayport cable from monoprice.

I discovered tonight that when you use the iMac in Target Display mode, the keyboard and mouse become unresponsive. (according to this (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924) apple support article)

I was hoping to be able to use my macbook pro in closed clamshell mode, and use the iMacs keyboard and mouse while it was being used as a display. What I'm wondering is, is that possible with the wireless keyboard and magic mouse? If not, would it work if I used a wired keyboard, and plugged it into the macbook pro instead of the iMac?

Thanks for your help.

You can connect the wireless mouse and keyboard to the MacBook Pro via Bluetooth.

And yes, a wired keyboard connected to the MBP will work too.

Also the ports on the iMac are not usable for the MBP while you use the iMac in Target Display Mode.

[idesign245]

Can you pair the keyboard and mouse to both the iMac and Macbook Pro so once the iMac is put into target display mode, it would switch to the macbook pro? Or would I have to have two sets of keyboard/mice?

[spinnerlys]

Can you pair the keyboard and mouse to both the iMac and Macbook Pro so once the iMac is put into target display mode, it would switch to the macbook pro? Or would I have to have two sets of keyboard/mice?

You can't have them paired at the same time, but you can turn off Bluetooth on the iMac first and then turn on Bluetooth on the MBP to pair the wireless pointing and input devices.
After you have finished using the MBP and iMac together, you turn off Bluetooth on the MBP and turn it on on the iMac.

See if that works.

[idesign245]

Will do once I get the iMac, thanks for your help.

[rtrt]

You can't have them paired at the same time, but you can turn off Bluetooth on the iMac first and then turn on Bluetooth on the MBP to pair the wireless pointing and input devices.
After you have finished using the MBP and iMac together, you turn off Bluetooth on the MBP and turn it on on the iMac.

See if that works.

if you turn off bluetooth on the imac using the bluetooth keyboard, how do you turn it back on again?

if you can use screen sharing from the mb to remote access the imac and then turn it on that might work?

[spinnerlys]

if you turn off bluetooth on the imac using the bluetooth keyboard, how do you turn it back on again?
...


That's a good question though, I only have a wireless keyboard, but a wired mouse, so I have never encountered that problem.

[QCassidy352]

if only they'd been able to make it so the same mouse and keyboard kept working once the imac entered display mode. I guess you'd need a usb connection as well as a mini displayport for that though? The ability to use the same mouse and keyboard with both the imac and the computer that's outputting to it would make this feature so much more attractive, IMO.

[unixfool]

OP,

Did that cable work out for you? You bought this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024602&p_id=5991&seq=1&format=2) one, right?

I know you had issues with it in clamshell mode, but I just want to know if it worked in general (as in, with the notebook open).

[Rizvi1]

oh nice, I didn't know about this. I'm a MacBook Pro owner (2.2ghz C2D SR bought fall 2007) and am looking for an i5 quad-core iMac 27".