iMac as a display

[pvbccr]

I have a 27in iMac late 2009 is there any way to make it a display for my 2014 13in Macbook air? Any Help would be appreciated.

 

[MacPC]

You might want to try an app called AirServer -- http://www.airserver.com. The way it works is you install it on your 2009 iMac, as long as they are on the same network as your MBA, AirServer uses Apple's AirPlay to display it as a secondary display wirelessly(either mirroring or extended. AirServer is free to try for seven days and only $15 USD to buy. I re-purposed my 2008 iMac as an external display, it works like a champ, well worth the $15. You can even project movies from the MBA to the 27" display!

 

[iMacBooked]

Or you could also use the Mac app Reflector, it works the same way and as it has been more reliable to me than Airserver (had some issues), I would totally recommend it.

 

[phphoto]

I have a friend in the same situation. Can you not use a thunderbolt cable and connect it to the display port on the iMac?

 

[yjchua95]

I have a friend in the same situation. Can you not use a thunderbolt cable and connect it to the display port on the iMac?

iMacs with Thunderbolt ports don't support display input, as far as I know.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I have a friend in the same situation. Can you not use a thunderbolt cable and connect it to the display port on the iMac?

Did the 2009 iMac have thunderbolt inputs?

 

[iMacBooked]

Did the 2009 iMac have thunderbolt inputs?

I was wondering that too, I thought they didn't have thunderbolt ports until 2011, but not sure though..

 

[yjchua95]

I was wondering that too, I thought they didn't have thunderbolt ports until 2011, but not sure though..

Thunderbolt was only introduced in Sandy Bridge Macs in 2011.

 

[jg321]

I have a 27in iMac late 2009 is there any way to make it a display for my 2014 13in Macbook air? Any Help would be appreciated.

You can use Target Display Mode:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3924#4

As per the top row of that table, you need a mini displayport - mini displayport cable.

 

[MacPC]

Personally I won't go for any cable solutions because cables tend to be messy and takes up another port. (You should see how many cables and wires my setup has, what a mess. YIKE!) Wireless is the way to go. There needs to be a law outcast all peripheral makers from cable connections. A true wireless world! Yay.