Dual monitors: 27" iMac and 27" Thunderbolt Display

[theSeb]

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?

I don't know where you read that, but I would urge you to not read anything else written by the same person / organisation / publication.

 

[Chris64tx]

Dual Displays

Could you post a pic to let us see how it looks? I have dual displays on my desk (PC)

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.

Image

 

[badman89]

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.

Is this still a problem for the 2012 versions?

 

[mchoffa]

my setup

iMac + TB + Samsung 1080P display/TV

Like that stand! Currently looking at options to raise my displays to make them even with the iMac

 

[alhavel]

my setup

iMac + TB + Samsung 1080P display/TV

Like that stand! Currently looking at options to raise my displays to make them even with the iMac

Nice! You need a wider desk, where from the wireless keyboard with numerical key pad from? I'm using a wired, makes it nicer for USB plug ins.

 

[mchoffa]

The keyboard is a Logitech K750 for Mac. It's USB, but uses the same single tiny little dongle as the Performance MX mouse next to it so I'm only using one USB port. I love this keyboard. I like Apple's wired keyboard and used that for years, but I got this 2 weeks ago and I have to say I like it better than Apple's. It's also solar, and charges with even a tiny bit of ambient light, so basically it's always charged!

I am out of desk space, but it's ok. When I am sitting here looking at the center of the iMac I basically have screen in my entire left to right field of view, and screen + keyboard/mouse/trackpad in my top to bottom field of view (I sit about 20 inches from my screen with the top of the iMac just above eye level)

 

[coocooforcocoap]

The keyboard is a Logitech K750 for Mac. It's USB, but uses the same single tiny little dongle as the Performance MX mouse next to it so I'm only using one USB port. I love this keyboard. I like Apple's wired keyboard and used that for years, but I got this 2 weeks ago and I have to say I like it better than Apple's. It's also solar, and charges with even a tiny bit of ambient light, so basically it's always charged!

I am out of desk space, but it's ok. When I am sitting here looking at the center of the iMac I basically have screen in my entire left to right field of view, and screen + keyboard/mouse/trackpad in my top to bottom field of view (I sit about 20 inches from my screen with the top of the iMac just above eye level)

did you ever find a way to level things out? i have this now, and looking for better: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17470176#post17470176

 

[flynz4]

I use the twelve south HiRise http://www.twelvesouth.com/products/hirise_imac/ and it makes my ATD the exact same height as my 2012 iMac.

The storage base also comes in quite handy. I keep the end of my Thunderbolt chain... plus a couple of USB syncing cables hidden away in the base... so I can always attach a HDD, sync my iPhone/iPad, etc... and the cables are not all over my desk.

/Jim

 

[Robster3]

I use the twelve south HiRise http://www.twelvesouth.com/products/hirise_imac/ and it makes my ATD the exact same height as my 2012 iMac.

The storage base also comes in quite handy. I keep the end of my Thunderbolt chain... plus a couple of USB syncing cables hidden away in the base... so I can always attach a HDD, sync my iPhone/iPad, etc... and the cables are not all over my desk.

/Jim

Nice, all we need is a new TBD.

 

[flynz4]

Nice, all we need is a new TBD.

At work I use my MBA with a 27" ACD and it works nicely... almost as good as an ATD for that purpose. I do not need the "internal TB docking station" at work.

At home, my ATD servers 3 purposes:

1. Nornally connected to my 27" iMac as a 2nd display
2. Optionally connected to my MBA, to do "work from home".
3. Travel to our beach condo for use with my MBA for "working remote"

Assuming Apple releases a new ATD... I'll buy a new one for purposes 1 & 2, and then keep my current ATD in it's "iLugger case"... for our frequent trips to the coast.

/Jim

 

[mchoffa]

did you ever find a way to level things out? i have this now, and looking for better: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17470176#post17470176

I haven't actually... I'm hoping for a refresh that make the TBD the same height and thickness as the iMac... if not, then I'll figure something out