iMac 2010 27" as external monitor via Target Display Mode - still worth it?

[Hellhammer]

I'm considering buying a second hand 2010 iMac 27" to use primarily as an external monitor via TDM. To give some background, I currently have two Dell 23" 1920x1080 monitors and a +10-year-old self-built desktop PC. I also have M1 MBA and a company-issued Windows laptop.

What I'm looking to accomplish is replacing the Dell monitors and desktop PC with an iMac, primarily for better asthetics I would say as the current setup is rather cable heavy. 2010 is unfortunately the last generation of iMac that supports real TDM with non-Mac devices and TDM is a must because I work from home by time to time and need to be able to use a big screen with my company PC. My current desktop has a Sandy Bridge CPU from 2011 and it serves my usage fine, so I expect 2010 iMac to suit my needs as well (I have the M1 MBA anyway if more power is needed).

Questions/concerns
1) How is software support for High Sierra (the last version with TDM support)? I would like to use MS Office and Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop at least, but those don't need to be the latest versions.
2) Does the iMac need a dedicated keyboard/mouse while in TDM mode? I would like to have just one Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on my desk, so when entering TDM I would use the KB/mouse with the connected device (be it PC or MBA).

I can find iMacs for around 100€ in my area so money wise this isn't a big investment, but I would appreciate comments if this can still make sense today given that we are talking about a 15-year-old Mac.

 

[servenvolley]

I have a 2009 that I use in target display mode and it does need dedicated a keyboard and mouse. For a 2009 model computer I'd say the screen is still very good as well. I have it targeted to a 2020 iMac and, unless I squint and look into the pixels at the finest level of detail, I see no difference between the screens in day to day use.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'd put your hundred towards a 2025 third party monitor. There are great 4K monitors for not much money and many will come with multiple inputs so you can share the same monitor with your PC too.

A 15 year old monitor- even an iMac monitor- is probably on its last legs and could conk at any time. Besides getting new tech inside a 2025 monitor likely to give you 10+ years from now, you'd also be getting a substantial resolution upgrade over that 2010.

It's basically over for Mac after about year 7 or so, so that iMac is 2X that 7 + 1. Versions of Office & Adobe will run but they will be way behind. If I really wanted to do this, I'd probably lean on Bootcamp where I could install at least Windows 10 and perhaps use Office and Adobe on that side of things (for newer versions of both).

But again, I'd pass on this "bargain" because it is WAY beyond macOS support time.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I'm considering buying a second hand 2010 iMac 27" to use primarily as an external monitor via TDM. To give some background, I currently have two Dell 23" 1920x1080 monitors and a +10-year-old self-built desktop PC. I also have M1 MBA and a company-issued Windows laptop.

What I'm looking to accomplish is replacing the Dell monitors and desktop PC with an iMac, primarily for better asthetics I would say as the current setup is rather cable heavy. 2010 is unfortunately the last generation of iMac that supports real TDM with non-Mac devices and TDM is a must because I work from home by time to time and need to be able to use a big screen with my company PC. My current desktop has a Sandy Bridge CPU from 2011 and it serves my usage fine, so I expect 2010 iMac to suit my needs as well (I have the M1 MBA anyway if more power is needed).

Questions/concerns
1) How is software support for High Sierra (the last version with TDM support)? I would like to use MS Office and Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop at least, but those don't need to be the latest versions.
2) Does the iMac need a dedicated keyboard/mouse while in TDM mode? I would like to have just one Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on my desk, so when entering TDM I would use the KB/mouse with the connected device (be it PC or MBA).

I can find iMacs for around 100€ in my area so money wise this isn't a big investment, but I would appreciate comments if this can still make sense today given that we are talking about a 15-year-old Mac.

I've just quitted High Sierra recently.
1. MS Office 2011 still works. Don't know about Adobe.
2. KB/M is only needed if you want to change brightness. Otherwise it automatically recognizes the video input and switch to TDM at the Log-in screen of High Sierra. I only use wire keyboard on my iMac 2010 for TDM. A mouse is not needed. Sometimes it's annoying that I had to unplug the miniDisplayPort plug to switch back to High Sierra.

 

[kath88]

Hi = i'm new to this forum and a bit of an idiot in regard to knowing what to buy. I would love some help. I have had a 27" imac for nearly 9 years. It's dying. I have been waiting for mac to issue a new 27" imac - seems a rumor that they will. If anyone knows if they will, please holler. In meantime my computer won't update anymore. So... can someone recommend a new route? Is it the mac mini and another screen - brand? I don't souped up stuff - just use for email, documents. My memory is 16G now. I have just been confused going to the Apple Store, electronics -don't know what a good combination would be. I know - a general question from a bit of an idiot - but thought I'd throw it out there. Thanks for any advice.

 

[pshufd]

I bought a 2010 iMac 7 i7 several years ago for $100. The owner said that they were going to bring it to the dump otherwise. It works fine in Target Display Mode and performance is good enough for iCloud stuff but I mainly use it as a TV these days. You can put Windows 10 on it too.

The i7 has decent enough horsepower. The HDD is bottleneck but I have 32 GB of RAM which keeps a lot of things cached and speeds it up.

I've heard that there are a number of things that don't work on it due to certificates expiring.

If you want one, keep an eye on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. I have seen these given away for free in the Boston area and that's what I'll do one of these days.

 

[redheeler]

It’s worth it if you already have the iMac or can get it for next to nothing. Otherwise it’s hot, noisy, consumes a lot of power, and if you just want a monitor there are much better options available.

These computers are nearing 15 years old and aren’t guaranteed to last forever either. I had mine die on me last December. And unfortunately, even with a perfectly good display and power supply I can’t use it in TDM.

 

[pshufd]

It’s worth it if you already have the iMac or can get it for next to nothing. Otherwise it’s hot, noisy, consumes a lot of power, and if you just want a monitor there are much better options available.

The 2009 and 2010 iMac 27s are great 2k panels. I have Dell Ultrasharp 2k panels and the the iMac panels are brighter and sharper and more enjoyable to use. I have moved on to 4k and 5k though. I use the 2009 in a pinch when I'm testing equipment and don't have spare monitor handy.

 

[redheeler]

The 2009 and 2010 iMac 27s are great 2k panels. I have Dell Ultrasharp 2k panels and the the iMac panels are brighter and sharper and more enjoyable to use. I have moved on to 4k and 5k though. I use the 2009 in a pinch when I'm testing equipment and don't have spare monitor handy.

They were great for their time. Nowadays they're just okay. They'll do, as you say, "in a pinch".

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

They were great for their time. Nowadays they're just okay. They'll do, as you say, "in a pinch".

For media consumption and some light tasks, they are still very useful.
My son is using iMac 2009, my wife iMac 2010 daily. They have no complaints except for the broken sound from the internal speakers.
My 10 yrs old daughter, on the other hand, is sharing my 2020's Windows PC, as she is playing Genshin Impact on the big TV screen attached to that PC.

 

[pshufd]

For media consumption and some light tasks, they are still very useful.
My son is using iMac 2009, my wife iMac 2010 daily. They have no complaints except for the broken sound from the internal speakers.
My 10 yrs old daughter, on the other hand, is sharing my 2020's Windows PC, as she is playing Genshin Impact on the big TV screen attached to that PC.

The speakers in my 2009 and 2010 iMac 27s are quite good. I prefer them to all of the PC speakers we have and I don't have to find an extra power outlet or run wires. The displays are still better than my Ultrasharps from 2015-2020. The newer displays like the U2723QE is comparable on brightness but cost five times what the 2010 iMac cost me.

These old iMacs turn up for free from time to time on Craigslist and that's a pretty good price if you have a specific use.