iMac, a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers from Apple
14
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I disable the 2nd hard drive in my 27" iMac?
I have an 2010 27" iMac with an SSD and a regular hard drive. Now that I've been using the machine for some time and have not come close to filling the SSD, I'd like to disable the spinning hard drive ...
11
votes
4answers
687 views
What is the best way to use two 27" monitors on your desk?
In my work environment I have three smaller monitors and love the productivity benefit. At home I have two 27" displays (the iMac and an external cinema display), but am having trouble laying them out ...
10
votes
5answers
5k views
Can 'Find My Mac' work while the computer is sleeping?
Is the 'Find My Mac' feature of iCloud supposed to work while the computer is sleeping? I use this feature to check on things every once in a while, as well as show the feature off to other people. ...
9
votes
5answers
5k views
IMac freezing intermittently--every few minutes. How can I fix this?
A couple of days ago, I was browsing, and downloading something from Usenet, when my iMac all of a sudden froze up, grinding to an unbearable slowness. After trying to tolerate what was happening for ...
8
votes
11answers
4k views
What's the advantage of buying an iMac over building a Hackintosh?
I'm not looking for a flame war or anything like that.
I am looking at (once I have some money, the hardest part) buying a iMac. Let's just assume one could build a fully working Hackintosh with ...
8
votes
7answers
6k views
How can I make my 27“ iMac and my 27” Thunderbolt display the same height?
I'm using an external 27" Thunderbolt display with my 27" iMac and I want the iMac and display to have the same height. By default, the Thunderbolt display is about an inch shorter than the iMac, ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Can I get sound out of both iMac and attached Thunderbolt Display?
I have a dual monitor setup (iMac + Thunderbolt Display). The System Preferences > Sound > Output setup only allows me to choose between one or the other monitor. This causes the sound to come only ...
7
votes
3answers
5k views
What is the difference between thunderbolt and displayport iMacs when used as monitors?
Somewhat confused by the Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort compatibility rules, and the apple store people were unhelpful, so I ask here (maybe I should ask here first :) Hopefully we can come to a ...
7
votes
3answers
750 views
Can you turn off or disable the display on an iMac?
I'd like to turn off my iMac display while connected to it via a remote desktop session. I'm using TeamViewer or LogMeIn, and unfortunately the screen stays on during those sessions when it really ...
7
votes
3answers
555 views
Control iMac and LED Cinema Display Brightness Simultaneously
I have a iMac 27'' and a LED Cinema Display 27'' connected to it. And I've noticed that to be able to control brightness I need to open the Display.prefPanel and modify the brightness of the displays ...
6
votes
4answers
11k views
Put the display to sleep without putting the whole computer to sleep?
I like to use vnc on my ipad on my bed. I want the mac to go to a black screen so I can fall asleep while using the ipad, and not have to get up to shut down the mac afterwards. Is there anyway to ...
6
votes
4answers
624 views
Easiest way to scan ISBN number from books
What is the easiest/quickest way using an iMac to scan the ISBN number of a bunch books.
Non-paying (for software, or dedicated scanner device) preferred, although low-cost solutions might be ...
6
votes
4answers
605 views
What are the main difficulties people face migrating from Linux to Mac OS?
Coming from a Linux background what are the main difficulties I will face if I start to work on iMac?
I use to work on Linux with consoles and I know I have a huge apps repository (synaptics) for ...
6
votes
3answers
306 views
Fundamental Difference Between Charging An iPhone At The Mains & Via USB Cable Linked To An iMac?
If you are working at an iMac and there is also a mains socket close at hand, is there any difference (in any respect) to charging an iPhone via USB cable linked to the Mac or is it more advisable to ...
6
votes
3answers
747 views
Using my iMac in a country with a different power supply standard
We may be relocating to a different area of the world where the power standards and outlets differ considerably from what I've got here in North America.
Is the power supply in my iMac ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
WIth the new iMac how do we connect an external screen?
For all that own or know this in the new version.
Is the Thunderbolt output compatible with the Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter?
If not, how do we connect our external monitor?
If yes, with the ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Can my Thunderbolt Macbook Air drive my Mini DisplayPort iMac as an external display?
I've run an iMac as an external display for a Mac laptop before, but am wondering if my new setup can work like that. I have:
2011 Macbook Air with Thunderbolt
2009 iMac with Mini DisplayPort
mini ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
iMac inconsistenly hanging and showing beach ball
This past week, I've been having constant problems with my 2007 Aluminium iMac (2.4GHz, 3GB memory, 320GB HDD). I've been downloading using Transmission, and when (sometimes) stopping or starting a ...
6
votes
5answers
516 views
External hard drive seems to block applications randomly
Since updating to OSX Lion on my late 2009 iMac, I have noticed some strange behaviour while using my computer. Every hour or so (I'm not actually sure about this pattern), the application that I am ...
5
votes
2answers
410 views
What am I going to do with an iMac 27 inch's display 3, 4 years from now?
I want to buy a 27 inch iMac, but the monitor cannot be re-used... it cannot be hooked up to any KVM (Keyboard / Video / Mouse) switch to be used with a PC too...
Also, 3, 4 years down the road, I ...
5
votes
3answers
799 views
Is it bad when my iMac is constantly on?
Is it bad if I never shutdown my computer?
I am asking solely terms of hardware so let's assume my software is stable and I reboot regularly to clean up software errors.
If running constantly is ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Will Early 2009 iMac accept faster-than-spec RAM?
I am looking to upgrade the RAM on my Early 2009 iMac from 4GB to 8GB. According to the memory specifications it accepts PC3-8500 204-pin SO-DIMMs. However, will the iMac accept faster RAM (e.g. ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Is Snow Leopard Server a good candidate for everyday use as a main OS?
Although similar questions have been asked before [1,2] non of them fully address whether OSX 10.6 Sever is a good candidate for everyday use on a top of the line computer. For the really lazy;
1 - ...
5
votes
2answers
366 views
Why Does My iMac Wake Itself Up?
I have an early 2009 24" iMac. Lately, when in sleep mode it will occasionally wake up for around ten seconds with the screen off, then go back to sleep. Wake on LAN is turned off so I can't figure ...
5
votes
2answers
667 views
iMac display has discolored tan lines
I have a 24 inch, mid-2007 iMac purchased used. I don't know the original owner and it's out of warranty.
On the display is a series of tan or yellowish horizontal lines - all an approximate inch ...
5
votes
1answer
731 views
Mixing memory sizes
I'm looking at upgrading the memory in my mid-2011 iMac. Is there any problem with sticking in 2 4GB modules alongside the existing 2GB modules?
5
votes
2answers
926 views
Considering 27" iMac. Can I use it as a TV?
I may be considering to get the iMac.
I don't own a TV, but I would love to be able to use it as such. I understand it has a DisplayPort input for these types of purposes.
What would I need to get ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Why have 5 different iMacs developed corrupt OS X partitions when the physical drives are fine?
I'm a tech for my local school district and we are having some problems with our iMac Multimedia Lab. Over the past nine months, 5 of the 22 iMacs have suffered from filesystem corruption. The only ...
5
votes
2answers
6k views
What can be done to fix a 2011 iMac that will not boot past the white screen?
I have now tried opening the iMac and removing the cables to the SSD, it still gets stuck on the white screen. I tried again, removing the cables to the HDD as well and the same thing occurs.
No idea ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
most Mac-compatible linux distribution
I want to install Ubuntu on my iMac. But I don't want to use Unity. I want to use Gnome 3. I can install it over Ubuntu (as I do on my laptop) but I know that Fedora and OpenSuse use Gnome 3 natively.
...
5
votes
1answer
406 views
What's the easiest way to free up disk space on my iMac with a huge photo library?
This is a hybrid hardware/software question with a few more factors than the typical "freeing disk space" question.
I have an older iMac with (I think) about a 250 GB hard drive. It's been running ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
How Do I Disable the Webcam on an External Thunderbolt Display
I've got an iMac 27" paired with a Thunderbolt 27" display that's rotated to portrait mode. Both of them have integrated webcams. Some applications are screwy and inconsistent about letting me pick ...
4
votes
6answers
300 views
How to create a text file in a folder
In windows I right click and then there is an option to create a text file.
How to do so in mac?
4
votes
1answer
201 views
Using iMac as Mac Pro display
I currently have a iMac (27-inch, Late 2009, 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) which I would like to use as display for a new Mac Pro. How do I do that?
4
votes
4answers
9k views
Is it ok to mix 2 GB and 4 GB DIMMS in an iMac (mid 2011)?
I've been told it is important to use matching DIMMs when installing memory to take advantage of the 128 bit throughput. I'm looking to buy a new 27" iMac (mid 2011) which has 4 memory slots. If I put ...
4
votes
2answers
827 views
Turning off ambient light control?
I have a mid-2011 27" iMac. I have realized that the screen brightness adjusts depending on the ambient light. When the sun hides behind the clouds, and the room gets darker, the brightness decreases. ...
4
votes
2answers
18k views
How can I find the product key of Office 2011 after restoring from backup?
I had to restore my iMac from a Time Machine backup.
Everything seemed fine until I tried to start Office 2011 and it is asking me to re-enter my product key. I am trying to locate my key (I believe ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Upgrade the hdd in the new mid 2011 iMac without buying an Apple certified hdd?
It has been recently discovered that Apple uses a new 7 pin hdd connection in their mid 2011 iMacs. When a none Apple certified hdd is installed the fans kick on during boot and system fails to start. ...
4
votes
2answers
580 views
Is there any way to use a 2011 iMac as a monitor for a non-Thunderbolt PC?
With a 2010 iMac I would be able to connect an HDMI to mini DisplayPort cable from a GPU to the iMac and have the iMac act a monitor using Target Display Mode. However, after some research I found ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How bad is it for a Mac to forcefully restart it when it freezes?
I have a 2011 27" iMac running OS X Lion. There is a known bug when iMac, after waking up from sleep mode, freezes while playing video (Flash in my case). It does not respond to any key combination ...
4
votes
1answer
452 views
iMac WiFi issue
I leave my iMac (24') on almost 24/7, putting it to sleep while not in use. Sometimes when I resume from sleep I encounter the following:
WiFi shows full signal
Loading web page in Safari loads ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
How to fix iMac losing Wi-Fi connection again and again?
My iMac loses its Wifi connection from minute to minute. To make it active again, I have to run "Assist Me..." from the Network preferences panel.
This is really, really annoying.
Does anyone ...
4
votes
2answers
5k views
Using an iMac as a monitor for a mac mini
I currently have an old 21 inch iMac that won't run Lion because it doesn't have a 64 bit chip. Other than that it works absolutely fine. I am however a part time developer and so I really need to ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I connect the iPad 2 video out to an iMac?
This is not a AirDisplay question, it's about the HDMI connection.
I don't have a TV. I use my main computer, a 27" iMac, for watching movies.
The iPad 2 has HDMI out and games can output to 1080p ...
4
votes
2answers
103 views
Two External Drives on iMac
Can I use the Keyboard USB Port for a second External Drive on my iMac? I've seen warnings to not use the keyboard port for external drives, but no explanation. How do I use 2 external drives, if not ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I keep my fan from staying at full speed after replacing the hard drive?
I replaced a hard drive in a 2011 iMac (Core i7), though it was a standard hard drive and didn't have a location for the S.M.A.R.T. cord. (Or at least I think that's what it was.) Since then, the ...
4
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does my iMac freeze since I upgraded to Lion? And how can I fix it?
My iMac (late 2009) worked great with Snow Leopard. After upgrading to Lion I am loosing the Mac vs. Windows war at home. The iMac freeze except for the mouse. The only thing to do is to restart with ...
4
votes
1answer
353 views
External disk stalls iMac
I have a weird problem with an external disk connected to my 27" iMac running OS X 10.6.5.
It is a 1TB LaCie d2 Quadra and it is connected through Firewire.
I use this disk primarily for Time ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How could i use an iMac as secondary monitor for windows 7 laptop
Recently (less than one year ago) i bought an iMac 21,5".
Now i would like to use it as secondary monitor for my laptop. (My laptop runs Windows 7).
Is it possible? (I found conflicting opinions on ...
3
votes
1answer
221 views
Why does my iMac reboot every day at the same time?
Every evening around 10:30, my iMac just stops and restarts. It's not a power outage because another iMac next to it (same plug) is not affected.
I'm thinking maybe a service that's set to run at ...
