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Dual monitors: 27" iMac and 27" Thunderbolt Display

H

henders98

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 15, 2009
32
0
Hi guys,

I just wanted to share my new setup with the forum for those who may be interested. I just added the Apple Thunderbolt Display to my 27" iMac i7. I write software for a living, so I've been wanting to add a second monitor for a while and decided to go for it when the Thunderbolt Display came out.

My thoughts so far:

- I LOVE the extra screen real estate. It's so nice to be able to have all my developer tools on one screen and reference material, e-mail, etc. on the other one.

- I ended up using the ATD as my "primary" screen with the iMac as the "secondary." I did this because I didn't want to keep having to move the displays around when I needed access to the iMac's SuperDrive. With it being on the right, it's never blocked.

- I'm using the ATD with the Macessity LowKey Stand. This ends up making the ATD ever so slightly higher than the iMac -- maybe 1/8 of an inch. I don't really notice it, but just wanted to mention it in case anyone was wondering.

If anyone has any particular questions, fire away.

computersetup.jpg
 
I also moved my 27" iMac to the right of my ATD to keep the DVD drive clear and set the ATD as my primary. It also allows me to have the iMac just low enough on it's stand that it perfectly lines up with the ATD and lets me use the ATD with my MBP as necessary (I bought a separate TB cable to connect the ATD to the iMac - be nice if I could keep them both plugged in and switch, but oh well). :cool:
 
Do you think that the TD should have a disk drive? IMO it should! Think of all the benefits:
-mac mini users would gain a disk drive
-macbook air users would gain a disk drive
-mac Pro users who have the towers on the ground would have the drive joy re accessible
-iMac users would be able to choose were they put there display (in terms of blocking the port)

My other ideas for the displays:
-make it the same hight as the iMac
-add the aluminum band below the screen just for the looks
-make more options, people who want the TD for a second display don't need a magsafe charger...
 
The fact that the 27" Thunderbolt display does not vertically align with the 27" iMac seems like a rather silly oversight. They should at least ship an alternate base with it or something.

Anyway, that's a cool stand, I'm going to check that out.
 
i really want to run multiple monitors .. but it just looks off to me .. i had a dual monitor setup with my mac pro but since selling that and getting this iMac i am missing multiple monitors .. ahh what to do
 
Thats so many pixels!

Question: When you switch desktops (left or right) with OSX Lion, do both monitors switch? Like, if you move to the right, will your right monitors screen push to the left monitor, and a new desktop appear on the right?

Hope im being clear enough
 
How close are the colors & color uniformity of the two screens when you have them side by side like that? Are they identical or is there a bit of a difference?
 
I dont think I could ever use another desktop setup after doing the same (27" iMac with TB display). I have a hard time using anything else as I keep trying to drag windows around.
 
MrT-Man said:
How close are the colors & color uniformity of the two screens when you have them side by side like that? Are they identical or is there a bit of a difference?
Click to expand...

It looks identical to me.

A heck of a lot closer than with the Dell I used to have as my second iMac display. :)
 
iMaci7 said:
Thats so many pixels!

Question: When you switch desktops (left or right) with OSX Lion, do both monitors switch? Like, if you move to the right, will your right monitors screen push to the left monitor, and a new desktop appear on the right?

Hope im being clear enough
Click to expand...

Both monitors switch desktops when you swipe left or right. OSX Lions treats both monitors as a single "space."
 
Sorry I couldn't resist. So many pixels.
 

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Hi

I have recently bought a ATD - loving it!

I have found that a bare 3.5 harddrive is a nats chuff off the adjustment height needed....thought you guys might like to know.

Now, about the brightness control, has anyone go the screens sync'd so when you use the keyboard brightness key thay both change?

Steve
 
SmogHead said:
Hi

I have recently bought a ATD - loving it!

I have found that a bare 3.5 harddrive is a nats chuff off the adjustment height needed....thought you guys might like to know.

Now, about the brightness control, has anyone go the screens sync'd so when you use the keyboard brightness key thay both change?

Steve
Click to expand...

kinda ugly ah? naked hd underit
 
Last edited:
With that set up can you have a full screen application on both displays at the same time?

I have a ViewSonic 28" monintor connected via DVI to my 27" iMac which is running Lion. If I move an application to the ViewSonic monitor and the make it full screen, the application slides back to the iMac and the monitor displays the grey canvas type back ground. Ideally I would like to have both screens working in full screen mode.
 
CWallace said:
It looks identical to me.

A heck of a lot closer than with the Dell I used to have as my second iMac display. :)
Click to expand...

I just don't see it looking identical, in fact, looks kind of off.

Don't like it when you have a dual screen setup and one monitor is slightly different to the other.

It's a shame Apple didn't make this work perfectly out the box.

I have a single 30" ACD and would love to go Dual, just like I use at work, but those prices are shocking.

As for the OP, looks like you've really thought it out, dual screens is lovely and once you've had it, you won't go back to a single screen.

Well done on both your purchases,

G.
 
I'm digging this dual screen setup

I'm debating whether to get a mac pro to replace my 09 imac, but this might have given me another "Pro" for another imac

questions: can one setup the desktop spaces to be monitor specific.

e.g. have lightroom opened on space 1 which is on display 1 while Photoshop opens on space 4 which opens on Display 2
 
I just got a 15" 2.0 i7 AG MBP and a 27" TB display at work.

I wish the TB had a couple of things -

  1. SD-card slot in the side
  2. CF card slot in the side (pro users are the ones buying these, give us CF support!)
  3. USB slot or two in the side. Seriously. Reaching around the back to plug in flash drives is a PITA.

There should also be a utility in screen arrangement to line things up. ;)
 
Sorry, I'm jumping in really late here, but I'm very curious about your setup, as I am thinking of doing the same thing. However, I read a review of the thunderbolt display saying that it wouldn't work very well with the iMac. He said he couldn't extend the desktop to it, so couldn't use it for any additional real estate. However, in looking at your photo, it seems you are doing just that. Did you have any trouble configuring it to extend to the extra display?
 
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