Everyone needs to go to www.apple.com/feedback and tell them to add target display mode back to their iMacs. This feature was available from 2009-to early 2014 iMac models. Apple won't know unless everyone lets them know that was an awesome feature that needs to be added. I am stuck with a 2010 iMac 27 and really can't buy a new iMac without loosing the target display mode on my computer because I connect my laptop to it as well. iMac's are awesome capable computers with beautiful displays that should be used and connected with other devices with the iMac as the target display.
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Target Display Mode- Let Apple Know To Add This Back
- Thread starter Danielsc2010
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Exactly what do you think you’d be able to accomplish? Sharing built in DVD drives? Oh wait...
OK, you need to learn about networking. Thunderbolt is one of many ways to connect two Macs.
https://www.macworld.com/article/2142073/connecting-two-macs-using-thunderbolt.html
There are other ways.
OK, you need to learn about networking. Thunderbolt is one of many ways to connect two Macs.
https://www.macworld.com/article/2142073/connecting-two-macs-using-thunderbolt.html
There are other ways.
Changing the IP address to mirror the image from your laptop to your iMac will have lag issues and does not look good as target display does. I have come to the conclusion that I must have two iMac’s, one 2010 with a min DP connection to use as target display for my PC laptops. Then a new iMac to enjoy a 5K Retina display.
How does your answer relate to Target Display? I didn't see the iMac target display used to connect to another Mac for an external display in the link. What are the "other ways" to perform target display?
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I don’t need to link anything else but to be able to connect to another Thunderbolt computer and use the iMac as target display if I had to. That’s what I currently do on my 2010 model and what you can do all the way up to early 2014 thunderbolt non retina models. I have to use a laptop for work and connect it to my iMac and use it as target display to keep my work area less cluttered with a bunch of monitors.
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I am familiar with the above link, all that says is you have to find a slow 2009-2010 Mini DisplayPort iMac or 2011-to early 2014 thunderbolt iMac’s to use target display mode but if you want to buy a brand new iMac 27 and use the iMac as target display for your MacBook, you are out of luck.
The excellent display quality of the higher-end iMacs (aside from issues like image retention) often means the display's usefulness exceeds the usefulness of the computer at some point. This is certainly the case with my 12-year-old 24" iMac from Late 2006, which has a decent 1920x1200 matte display but predates the introduction of Target Display Mode. If I could use it as a display for a better Mac, instead of trying to play modern video codecs using a 12-year-old dual-core processor and midrange GPU (though luckily the best available for the iMac at the time), I would.
So yes, it would be nice to see Apple bring back this feature, especially as I've been telling some in the Mac mini section that it's possible to use their existing pre-2014 iMac as a display for a brand new Mac mini.
So yes, it would be nice to see Apple bring back this feature, especially as I've been telling some in the Mac mini section that it's possible to use their existing pre-2014 iMac as a display for a brand new Mac mini.
I believe one of the problems with the 5K iMac screens is that couldn't drive them with a single cable, and was believed that apple making a double link internally to drive the screen. Needed Displayport 1.3 for a single cable link.
You need the TitanRidge TB3 controller not the earlier AplineRidge TB3 controller to get DisplayPort 1.4 instead of DisplayPort 1.2
https://www.anandtech.com/show/12228/intel-titan-ridge-thunderbolt-3
So possibly could re-introduce with new iMac presuming use TitanRidge TB3 instead of AlpineRidge, but will also need whatever plugging in to use as well. Unless anyone thinks that Apple going to start adding display port outputs onto everything.
You need the TitanRidge TB3 controller not the earlier AplineRidge TB3 controller to get DisplayPort 1.4 instead of DisplayPort 1.2
https://www.anandtech.com/show/12228/intel-titan-ridge-thunderbolt-3
So possibly could re-introduce with new iMac presuming use TitanRidge TB3 instead of AlpineRidge, but will also need whatever plugging in to use as well. Unless anyone thinks that Apple going to start adding display port outputs onto everything.
Apple cannot add functionality that the hardware won’t support.
There are other ways to NETWORK and log into one Mac from another (big letters may help reading comprehension).
There would have to be a compelling reason for Apple to build Target mode into a future Mac. You’ve not given any reason other than it’s something you want. Ok, you want what you want but... It has to be something that millions of others would want and something that Apple Marketing would be able to tout as a desirable feature.
You haven’t even attempted to make a case as to why a user like I would want to ask for the return of Target Mode.
So, why in the world would I want to shut down and reboot a target machine so that I could control its drives from another when I can do it simply by having both machines on the same network, wired, wireless or over the internet?
I used Target mode for years to diagnose and repair Macs. With PPCs, it was a useful tool but it had to be done one at a time. Nowadays, I can log into an entire classroom and look at 25 computers simultaneously, clicking on each one from my laptop to see what I need if there’s a problem. At the beginning of the school year, I can reformat all campus classroom computers to the same, standardized configuration with key stroke. BTW, nearly all of these are old enough to support Target mode as is the laptop I use. I probably used it last in 2012 to update a 2008 iMac from my 2010.
There are other ways to NETWORK and log into one Mac from another (big letters may help reading comprehension).
There would have to be a compelling reason for Apple to build Target mode into a future Mac. You’ve not given any reason other than it’s something you want. Ok, you want what you want but... It has to be something that millions of others would want and something that Apple Marketing would be able to tout as a desirable feature.
You haven’t even attempted to make a case as to why a user like I would want to ask for the return of Target Mode.
So, why in the world would I want to shut down and reboot a target machine so that I could control its drives from another when I can do it simply by having both machines on the same network, wired, wireless or over the internet?
I used Target mode for years to diagnose and repair Macs. With PPCs, it was a useful tool but it had to be done one at a time. Nowadays, I can log into an entire classroom and look at 25 computers simultaneously, clicking on each one from my laptop to see what I need if there’s a problem. At the beginning of the school year, I can reformat all campus classroom computers to the same, standardized configuration with key stroke. BTW, nearly all of these are old enough to support Target mode as is the laptop I use. I probably used it last in 2012 to update a 2008 iMac from my 2010.
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You seem to be talking about Target Disk mode. This thread is about Target Display.
"(big letters may help reading comprehension)"
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If you don’t understand the issue, please ask questions so that it can be explained.
The OP wants something that is not technically possible and has given no compelling reason for Apple to redesign the hardware to make it so, presumably with their own chip.
What he wants to accomplish is easily done—just not the way he wants to do it.
What have we missed that Jesus needs to be involved?
The OP wants something that is not technically possible and has given no compelling reason for Apple to redesign the hardware to make it so, presumably with their own chip.
What he wants to accomplish is easily done—just not the way he wants to do it.
What have we missed that Jesus needs to be involved?
Because he isn't looking to Network and Access the Hard Drives, he wants to be able to use the iMac simply as a Monitor. He isn't looking to log into the iMac either.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204592
Goes through what Target Display mode is which is Target Display Mode lets you use the built-in display on a supported iMac as an external display for another Mac.
Not sure why you are persisting in thinking he wants to access the iMac drives remotely.
You just don’t get it. The entire purpose of the original post is that the OP doesn’t want to buy an external monitor. So the proposal is to redesign the iMac to include functionality that Intel dropped in 2015.
A 27? monitor with a screen every bit as good as a 2010 iMac runs well under $200. Added benefits are much lower energy costs and far less heat generated. Spend $400 and get a 4K LG that blows it out of the water.
The premise that he is “stuck with a 2010 ...” and bla, bla, bla is silly to the point of being ridiculous. It’s also not true when one focuses on the goal which really is a decent external display. (or so I think as I write this from my 2010 iMac connected to two external displays).
The real reason for Target Mode, introduced with FireWire on the PPC, was to control one Mac from another. Nothing you imply changes that basic fact. As I have pointed out, there are now better ways to do that.
I will neither read nor respond to anything else posted in this thread. Done with this.
A 27? monitor with a screen every bit as good as a 2010 iMac runs well under $200. Added benefits are much lower energy costs and far less heat generated. Spend $400 and get a 4K LG that blows it out of the water.
The premise that he is “stuck with a 2010 ...” and bla, bla, bla is silly to the point of being ridiculous. It’s also not true when one focuses on the goal which really is a decent external display. (or so I think as I write this from my 2010 iMac connected to two external displays).
The real reason for Target Mode, introduced with FireWire on the PPC, was to control one Mac from another. Nothing you imply changes that basic fact. As I have pointed out, there are now better ways to do that.
I will neither read nor respond to anything else posted in this thread. Done with this.
I can think of some reasons why using the older iMac in Target Display Mode would work out better than selling it and using the money to get a third-party standalone display:
- Selling an iMac is not an easy process. It requires erasing the drive, reinstalling the OS, taking photos, preparing a listing, and possibly buying shipping materials, adequately packing to avoid shipping damage. There is also the wait for the buyer, and the ever-present possibility of scammers.
- A third-party display won't have the build quality or aesthetic appearance of an iMac.
- The iMac is still usable as a standalone computer when necessary.
Target Disk Mode is still present even on the latest iMac models, while Target Display Mode is a different feature introduced years later and removed in 2014 due to no longer being technically feasible.
I see the usual stubbornness of a person who cannot acknowledge that misunderstood what was asked about. Though here seem to have understood at last based on this post. You are talking about Target DISK mode whereas the Thread is about Target DISPLAY mode. They are NOT the same thing, and Target DISK is still available in Mac OS but irrelevant to what the Thread is about.
Thread Starter ( not unreasonably ) would like to be able to use an iMac ( and moving forward with newer iMacs continue to do so ) as an external monitor for the laptop. Not have an iMac and a separate monitor to use with there Laptop. It really isn't rocket science to read what the Thread Starter asking about and why. I agree EXACTLY with you about Target DISK mode but it is completely irrelevant to what being asked about.
Personally I don't see it happening as there are technical reasons around what is needed to drive a 5K screen as to why was dropped though possibly could be re-introduced though now with the Titan Ridge TB3 if used across all Mac's moving forward though there still be people that persist in plugging in older Macs without DP 1.4 support and then wandering why not working.
You only have to look at the number of people that struggle with USB-C and TB3 and that not the same thing so imagine what would be like with hh whilst you have an TB3 mac it has an older TB controller so won't work.
Networking for display purposes is completely and unnecessarily over complicating what TDM was meant for. TDM is an actual hardware solution that was removed from the thunderbolt Macs. Also networking response time has lag issues that make it unrealistic to use. Say you have 2 or three old iMacs. Utilizing these beautiful screens instead of recycling or landfilling them would help extending their usefulness. On apple's business side of this. Instead of putting money into other companies products, Apple can keep the customer looking at their own products while getting into the new modular designs of the Mac mini or the proposed Mac Pro. (yes there is a new apple monitor coming but an 8k monitor is a terribly overpriced idea that is solely serving the investor growth portion instead of the actual customer). In fact people actually use 2010 iMacs which are nice 1440p external displays.
Again, it doesn't matter. Intel killed the functionality, not Apple. The hardware doesn't support it and Apple is not going to design a custom chip to bring it back.
Except... they kind of did. This functionality is available in Macs with the controller function built into the T2 chip. You can network a 2018 Mini and an iMac Pro and/or new MacBook Pro through 10G Ethernet. It's not quite the same but you can run a 2018 Mini and use the iMP for the display.