iMac as monitor - which special cable?

[mattkime]

a quick googling reveals that the iMac can only be used as a monitor if it has mini display port input. my olde mac mini doesn't have display port, just dvi. is there a cheap and reasonable way to use my iMac as a monitor for my mac mini?

[Paul F.]

You can use an iMac as a monitor??? Wow.. where have I been?

It would occur to me to use Screen Sharing / VNC to bring the other screen up ON the iMac, but I wouldn't have thought to try to use it AS a monitor.

[Doc]

First, have you got the 27-inch iMac that supports it?

Second, have you got the cash...?
http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-DVI-to-Mini...17859.html

[ka jowct]

Is it the 27" iMac? Not sure it works except with the mini display port.

[gabester]

I'll second the suggestion of VNC without a little more information.
1. Your Mac mini is old enough to lack mini-Displayport.
2. There really isn't a way to adapt DVI output to Displayport input without a lot of money spent (better off putting that money towards a new computer with DP than an adapter!)
3. Is your iMac new enough to have the mini-Displayport that can accept another connected Displayport video card as an input? If not, the above two points are moot - there's no way to use it as a direct display of the video on the mini; the best bet again would be something to view a virtual screen from the mini on the booted iMac over a network connection.
g=

[C(-)ris]

Paul F. wrote:
You can use an iMac as a monitor??? Wow.. where have I been?

It would occur to me to use Screen Sharing / VNC to bring the other screen up ON the iMac, but I wouldn't have thought to try to use it AS a monitor.

Only the 27" with the Minidisplay port connector. No there are no adapters under $150 that let you do it with a machine that only has DVI.

[Doc]

C(-)ris wrote:
No there are no adapters under $150 that let you do it with a machine that only has DVI.

That's list.

A diligent shopper might be able to find the adapter that I linked to for around $120.

It's a steal!

[mattkime]

http://estore.circuitassembly.com/produc...-Link.html

looks like a much cheaper alternative.

apparently none of the DVI to Mini-displayport adapters support dvi-d (dual link / full res on a 30")

[mattkime]

hm , i guess some do support dual link but they're closer to $200.

[decay]

ScreenRecycler, maybe?

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/229...enrecycler

ScreenRecycler allows you to use your other computer as a second monitor.

Many Mac users have a second computer sitting right next to their main computer on their desk including a nice display. ScreenRecycler now enables you to use this spare computer as second display for your Mac. You can even use an idle machine for that purpose.

It's like a dual monitor setup without the need to buy an additional monitor. Just start ScreenRecycler on your Mac then connect to ScreenRecycler via VNC from your second machine.
http://www.screenrecycler.com/ScreenRecycler.html

I thought it was free, but it's $30.