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For this little experiment, you’re going to need a few things: a computer (both Windows and Mac are supported—sorry, Linux users), an Android device, a copy of iDisplay ($9.99) from the Play Store, and the iDisplay driver on your computer.
- 1 Use a PC as a Second Monitor to a Mac
- 2 Hook Up an Alienware Laptop to an External Monitor
- 3 Connect an HP Laptop DVI to an LCD HDMI
- 4 Stream Video Podcasts to Your TV
While not commonly practiced due to Apple's proprietary monitor input design, an Apple monitor can be connected to a PC. Connecting an Apple monitor to one of your business PCs first requires an understanding of the different types of monitor connections that Macs and PCs use. The two most common PC monitor connection types are VGA and DVI, while Mac monitors commonly use the DisplayPort or Thunderbolt connector types.
1.Shut down your computer and monitor, then disconnect your current monitor if necessary.
2.Locate the monitor cable port on the back of your PC and the Mac monitor. To identify the connector types, examine the shape of the connector, count the number of pins or holes and take note of the configuration of the pins or holes. The Mac Thunderbolt connector looks identical to the mini-DisplayPort connector, but is differentiated by a thunderbolt-shaped icon near the port.
3.Insert the Mac connector cable into its corresponding port on the monitor. If the opposite end of your Mac connector cable has pins, you will need a female Mac to PC converter, while if it has holes, you will need a male Mac to PC converter.
4.Connect the PC connector cable to your computer's monitor port and examine the opposite end of your PC connector cable. If the cable has pins, you will need a Mac to PC converter with a female PC side, while if it has holes, your converter must have pins on the PC side.
5.Connect the PC cable to the converter, then connect the Mac cable. Tighten all connections if necessary, then power on your monitor and computer.
Things Needed
- Mac to PC monitor converter
- Mac monitor cable
- PC monitor cable
Tips
- Because there are numerous possible combinations of Mac to PC monitor connectors, confirm your connector types prior to purchasing a converter. The Mac to PC monitor converter must correspond with the male (pinned) and female (unpinned) connections of your PC and Mac cables.
- Access the display settings in the control panel to configure your monitor for optimal performance.
References (2)
Resources (2)
About the Author
Anthony Oster is a licensed professional counselor who earned his Master of Science in counseling psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as a writer and lead video editor for a small, South Louisiana-based video production company since 2007. Oster is the co-owner of a professional photography business and advises the owner on hardware and software acquisitions for the company.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Choose Citation Style
Oster, Anthony. 'How to Use an Apple Monitor With a PC.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/use-apple-monitor-pc-57232.html. Accessed 20 November 2019.
Oster, Anthony. (n.d.). How to Use an Apple Monitor With a PC. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/use-apple-monitor-pc-57232.html
Oster, Anthony. 'How to Use an Apple Monitor With a PC' accessed November 20, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/use-apple-monitor-pc-57232.html
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iPad Q&A
Update Published November 9, 2019
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Can the regular iPad models be used as an external display for a Mac or PC? Which regular iPad models support Sidecar?
Originally, the iPad models were not designed to be used as a second display for a Mac or PC and Apple did not provide this capability out of the box.
However, clever programmers wrote third-party software to add this capability and it became quite possible to use any iPad running iOS 7 or later as an external display (only the original iPad is not capable of running iOS 7 or later). Early versions of software only connected via Wi-Fi and often were slow and laggy, but later software made it possible to connect from a computer directly to the iPad via its 30-pin or Lightning port and worked very well. Of course, Wi-Fi networks can be much faster now, too.
iPad Sidecar Support (iOS 13 & macOS Catalina)
As a new feature for the current version of the iOS, iOS 13 (iPadOS), in conjunction with macOS Catalina (10.15), Apple knocked off the functionality of these independent apps and integrated it with the company's operating systems.
This feature now is called 'Sidecar' and among regular iPad models, it allows the previous iPad (6th Gen) and current iPad (7th Gen) models to be used as a second display for a Mac:
Sidecar-Compatible iPad Models | Model No |
Some iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models also are compatible.
iPad External Display Software for Mac & Windows
If you have compatible hardware, you might as well use Sidecar these days, but if you have an older iPad (and/or an older Mac or a Windows PC), one of these pioneering apps may come in handy.
Four apps worth considering to use your iPad as a second display with your Mac or PC include Duet Display, AirDisplay, iDisplay, and Splashtop XDisplay.
All four apps work in effectively the same way with one app for the iPad and a companion app installed on the 'paired' computer.
Duet Display
Reportedly designed by former Apple engineers, Duet Display widely is considered to be the leader for this type of app. After being disappointed by an earlier app from another company, EveryiPad.com discovered this app and found it to work well. It only connects via 30-pin or Lightning and does not offer a Wi-Fi connected solution.
The current version of Duet Display is compatible with Macs running OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or higher and Windows 7 and higher as well as all iPad models running iOS 10 or later.
iDisplay
Early versions of iDisplay only connected an iPad to a computer via Wi-Fi, but the current version supports both direct cable connection and Wi-Fi options.
iDisplay is compatible with OS X 10.9 or higher and Windows XP or higher and all iPad models running iOS 7 or later.
AirDisplay
AirDisplay connects an iPad to a Mac via Wi-Fi. It does not support direct cable connections nor does the current version support Windows.
AirDisplay is compatible with Macs running OS X 10.8 or higher and iPad models running iOS 7 or later.
Splashtop XDisplay
Splashtop XDisplay is a more recent entry to the game, but from a developer with extensive experience developing iOS business apps.
Splashtop XDisplay is compatible with Macs running OS X 10.9 or higher and Windows 7 or higher and all iPad models running iOS 7 or higher.
Of these four apps, EveryiPad.com would suggest Duet Display because it is a well designed app and one that we have used personally, although it is the most expensive.
iDisplay is well worth considering particularly if you have an older Windows PC running Windows XP and AirDisplay is well worth considering if you have a Mac running OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) and a strong Wi-Fi connection. Splashtop XDisplay has a more barebones interface, but it is cheap.
Buy a Portable Monitor Instead
Photo Credit: ASUS, Inc. (ASUS Notebook & MB169+ USB Portable Monitor)
If you like the idea of using an iPad as a second compact display for a Mac or Windows PC, you might prefer to instead purchase a travel monitor like the Mac compatible Asus MB169+ USB Portable Monitor.
This portable monitor is physically larger than an iPad, and doesn't work as a tablet computer, but it doesn't weigh much more, has a greater viewable area, and costs much less.
iPad as Second Display Summary
Ultimately, the iPad is too expensive just to use as a second display for a Mac or Windows PC. However, if you have an iPad that you carry with you in addition to a notebook computer, using the iPad both as a tablet and as a second display can be a convenient way to save space when traveling.
Using an older iPad as a second display also is a good way to repurpose it at home if you have subsequently purchased a newer iPad and you would like to add another smaller external monitor to an existing multi-display Mac or PC setup (or you do not currently have sufficient funds to purchase an external monitor for your Mac or Windows PC).
If you just want a compact second display to carry on the road with a Mac or Windows notebook, an Asus USB Portable Monitor might be even better for you.
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