New 27″ iMac doubles up as external monitor →
Jeff Mancuso makes a keen observation:
Somewhat hidden in the announcement is a small but important feature – the DisplayPort connection on the back of the 27″ iMacs operates both as a jack for an external monitor and also as an input for an external computer if you want to use your 27″ iMac as a monitor.
This really opens up the possibilities! You can have two iMacs side by side, sharing the display (I wonder if it has the horsepower to drive another 2560*1440 pixels), but have the option of using them separately. You can use the iMac’s display to extent your MacBook, while doing its own thing when your MacBook is not around.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
What I find completely odd is the screen sizes now. Say you purchase the 21.5″ iMac and want to use another Display with it – what are your choices? The LED display is 24″ and the old displays (even though amazingly costly and outdated) are 23″ and 30″. So there’s quite a big mismatch in the placement of the displays.
Same’s the case for the 27″ iMac. While you _could_ pair it up with the new glossy display, the screen resolution _and_ the arrangement is going to mismatch.
Well Preshit does have a point there but I feel it would be applicable more to the 21.5-inch iMac than the 27-inch one. The 27-inch iMac display has excellent resolution that negates the need for a second monitor. You enjoy the liberty of having full-sized Photoshop and Safari windows next to each other.
@ankur
“The 27-inch iMac display has excellent resolution that negates the need for a second monitor.”
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
@Ankur
You obviously don’t feel for the countless Video Editors, Visual Effects and Color grading guys out there.
My burning question is will this video-in capability be useful for connecting other devices, say my PS3 with HDMI? Will there be a HDMI to DisplayPort adapter? Will it cost less than a new kidney? Will it display my PS3 video without issue?
Inquiring minds want to know.
“I wonder if it has the horsepower to drive another 2560*1440 pixels”
From http://www.apple.com/dk/imac/specs.html:
“Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to a 30-inch display (2560 by 1600 pixels) on an external display”
@dhs
Glad to have provided you with some laughter therapy
@Preshit
Oh well yes, my views and vision were restricted to the home consumer segment, can’t still figure out why. My bad.
god damn it someone answer QUIX
god damn it someone answer QUIX, sorry for the double post i forgot to check the ” notify me of followup comments via e-mail” thing
i ditto that, someone answer quix. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get my xbox or ps3 to play on my new 27″ imac for a few days now. I tried a minidisplay port-to-dvi adapter, and then a dvi-to-hdmi adapter, but it didn’t work…. Do you have to do something on the computer for it to act as an input, rather than an output?
oh, and thanks for any help with this.
From this article on AppleInsider:
Slim pickings.
So does this mean that you can use Two 27 Imacs together?
My goal:
Mac 1. 27 Imac Running Windows (Boot)
Mac 2. 27 Imac Running OSX (boot)
When in Windows, I want two screens!
When in OSX, I want two screens.
I want to be able to switch oses. (since each computer is on, one with each os)
Is this possible?
Trying to make a change to mac.
Thanks in advnace
The product mentioned at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbpvZQvSbOM claims that it converts from HDMI to DisplayPort. However it is a steep $150 when I checked, and not sure if it handles encrypted content or not.
I was comparing Sony’s all in one with blueray, HDMI input and TV tuners, and to bring the apple up to a similar spec is $$$ in what is already not the cheapest product.