How to use your 27-inch iMac display with other devices
If you have a new iMac with a 27-inch display (and it is not broken) you can use it as a display for other devices, and a new Apple support document tells you how to avoid possible pitfalls.
Even though it happens to have a computer inside, the new 27-inch iMac system display is still just a monitor, though a truly large one, with acres and acres of display area. That means that it can be used as a display for other sorts of devices, such as other computers (including < shudder > PCs) and DVD players, as two examples. Although fairly straightforward, such use is slightly complicated by the fact that, when used as a display for other devices, this particular display also has OS X running in the background at all times.
The support document itself is available on the Apple site, taking you through the process of connection and use. The connection is straightforward, using the Mini DisplayPort to connect a cable from the other device. The most important thing that you need to know is that the F2 key toggles the display back and forth between displaying information from the iMac and information from the other connected device. Beyond that, Apple has some usage tips:
- Applications running on the 27-inch iMac computer remain open and running while it is in Target Display mode.
- Use the keyboard of the 27-inch iMac to adjust display brightness and sound volume and to control media playback of applications running on the 27-inch iMac in Target Display mode. Other keyboard and mouse input is disabled on the 27-inch iMac while it is in Target Display mode.
- The 27-inch iMac works like any other external display while it is in Target Display mode, except that you cannot access its built-in iSight or USB and FireWire ports. To change display settings, open System Preferences on the external source computer and choose Display from the View menu.
- Mac OS X on the 27-inch iMac ignores some sleep requests while it is in Target Display mode, but forced sleep, restart, and shutdown commands will still work. If the external source goes into idle display sleep, the 27-inch iMac in Target Display mode will go dark until activity resumes on the external source.
- If you shut down, sleep, or detach the external source while In Target Display mode, the 27-inch iMac will leave Target Display mode.
- The Mini DisplayPort in the 27-inch iMac can receive only DisplayPort compliant video and audio signals. Converters not made by Apple may provide options to convert other electrical, video, and audio protocols to Mini DisplayPort compliant signals.
That’s all there is to it! Happy viewing with your iMac, as long as you can find cables, of course. Apple is not providing adapters for most devices and has no plans to do so, leaving that up to third party manufacturers. Still, if you can get signals to it, the iMac 27-inch display will make even your non-Mac content look good!
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