2010 iMac + 2011 MBA = Confusion

[avijeets]

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, I don't want to waste any one's time.

I have a 2010 Mid-iMac (has miniDisplayPort port) and I just got a Mid-2011 MBA (has Thunderbolt port), and I just reached confusion .

If you check out this video, you can obviously tell, that if my iMac was thunderbolt, I would be able to use it as a monitor. But since it's mDP, I cannot.

Is there anyway I can connect my Macbook Air into the iMac, being able to use the iMac as a monitor?

If so, what wire do I need, to connect the two?

Thanks.

 

[TheLegend]

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, I don't want to waste any one's time.

I have a 2010 Mid-iMac (has miniDisplayPort port) and I just got a Mid-2011 MBA (has Thunderbolt port), and I just reached confusion .

If you check out this video, you can obviously tell, that if my iMac was thunderbolt, I would be able to use it as a monitor. But since it's mDP, I cannot.

Is there anyway I can connect my Macbook Air into the iMac, being able to use the iMac as a monitor?

If so, what wire do I need, to connect the two?

Thanks.

I would imagine you could use the MBA's thunderbolt port as a Mini Display Port. So if you bought 2 Mini Display Port > VGA adapters and used a VGA cable to connect the two.

 

[Bear]

I would imagine you could use the MBA's thunderbolt port as a Mini Display Port. So if you bought 2 Mini Display Port > VGA adapters and used a VGA cable to connect the two.

Connecting them is one thing. Having it actually do what avijeets wants is another issue.

Don't try this. At best it's a waste of time. At worst, it might short something out.

...
I have a 2010 Mid-iMac (has miniDisplayPort port) and I just got a Mid-2011 MBA (has Thunderbolt port), and I just reached confusion .
...
If so, what wire do I need, to connect the two?

You can't - it requires Thunderbolt. See this Apple Knowledge Base document for some related info.

 

[Acorn]

Connecting them is one thing. Having it actually do what avijeets wants is another issue.

Don't try this. At best it's a waste of time. At worst, it might short something out.

You can't - it requires Thunderbolt. See this Apple Knowledge Base document for some related info.

that knowledge base article is for 2011 imac not 2010. the reason that article says that is because the 2011 has a TBD port. An 2011 imac TBD port cant be used as a target source unless the source is from a TBD port. it does not apply to 2010 with mini display port.

there is nothing wrong with using a non thunderbolt display running from a thunderbolt display port (if its not daisy chained from multiple TBD). simply use a mini displayport to mini display port cable to the imac and then it should work in target display mode.

mini display port can run from thunderbolt. just not the other way around. you cant drive a TBD from mini display port.

 

[jsolares]

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, I don't want to waste any one's time.

I have a 2010 Mid-iMac (has miniDisplayPort port) and I just got a Mid-2011 MBA (has Thunderbolt port), and I just reached confusion .

If you check out this video, you can obviously tell, that if my iMac was thunderbolt, I would be able to use it as a monitor. But since it's mDP, I cannot.

Is there anyway I can connect my Macbook Air into the iMac, being able to use the iMac as a monitor?

If so, what wire do I need, to connect the two?

Thanks.

You need a mini display port cable.

 

[lamboman]

You need a mini display port cable.

This is wrong wrong wrong! Please listen to what has been said by Acorn.

 

[panzer06]

snip... simply use a mini displayport to mini display port cable to the imac and then it should work in target display mode.

mini display port can run from thunderbolt. just not the other way around. you cant drive a TBD from mini display port.

You need a mini display port cable.

This is wrong wrong wrong! Please listen to what has been said by Acorn.

Acorn & jsolares are saying the same thing. A simple mdp to mdp cable from a TB equipped system should be fine connected to the video input of a non-TB iMac. The iMac is just another non-TB capable external monitor.

Cheers,

 

[jsolares]

This is wrong wrong wrong! Please listen to what has been said by Acorn.

You're wrong you should re-read what acorn posted.

This is a 2010 iMac + 2011 MBA, the same combination i have. the MBA can drive minidisplay port through the thunderbolt port, so it CAN drive the iMac as it's display.

All you need for this combo is a mini display port cable on both ends.

Now if it were a 2011 iMac + 2010 MBA it just can't be done. you would also need a 2011 MBA and then would use a thunderbolt cable.