Google search is DEAD! Why waste time searching? AI is the answer, catch up with technology, Google SUCKS!

Byadmin

I’m a Mac guy, I prefer Apple products when it comes to imagery and video work. I have been milking my 27in I-5 imac with 40gig ram for 5 years.I purchased a mini m2 for our India business and were amazed with the productivity gains, so when the new m4 mini came out I had to do an upgrade, primarily because alot of our programs now require the m class chip.

This is the example, instead of doing a regular search and trying to identify which website post will answer my question, lets hope after 10 or 15 minutes of bullshit posts i can get the answer or I can go to ChatGPT and without a fee or login I can ask the question and get the answer i want, and with that I can even continue interacting digging deeper on the specific topic I want to learn about!

Here is my question
Can you connect a 2019 intel imac to a new m4 mini and use them together
Answered on the first try

Yes, it is possible to connect a 2019 Intel-based iMac to a new Apple M4 Mac mini, but how you use them together depends on what exactly you’re trying to do. There are a few scenarios where you might want to pair them:

1. Target Display Mode (for using iMac as a monitor)

Unfortunately, the 2019 Intel iMac doesn’t support “Target Display Mode,” which allows an older iMac to be used as a monitor for another Mac. Apple removed this feature after mid-2014 iMacs, so you won’t be able to use the 2019 iMac as an external display for the M4 Mac mini.

2. Using the iMac and M4 Mac Mini on the Same Network

If your goal is to use both systems side by side on the same network, then you can connect them over Wi-Fi or Ethernet and use software to share files, screens, or even control them remotely:

  • Screen Sharing: macOS has built-in support for Screen Sharing, so you can remotely control your iMac from the Mac mini or vice versa. Simply enable “Screen Sharing” in the system preferences of the Mac you want to control and connect using Finder.
  • File Sharing: You can easily share files between the two Macs using macOS’ file sharing options. Enable “File Sharing” in the iMac’s system preferences and access it from the Mac mini via Finder.
  • Universal Control: If both devices are running macOS Monterey or later, you can use Universal Control to control both the iMac and Mac mini with the same mouse and keyboard. This feature lets you move your cursor seamlessly between devices, drag and drop files, and copy-paste text.

3. Using Remote Desktop Tools

If you need to run applications or work on one Mac from the other, remote desktop software like Apple Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or VNC can be used to control one Mac from the other.

4. Networking for Shared Tasks (e.g., Render Farm or Distributed Computing)

If you’re looking to use both computers for tasks like distributed rendering or parallel computing, you’d set up a network between them and use specialized software (such as Final Cut Pro, Blender, or other rendering engines) that supports distributed work.

5. Using iMac as a Server

If you plan to use the iMac as a server (for instance, for media storage or for certain development tasks), the Mac mini can connect to the iMac via networking or a direct cable (e.g., Thunderbolt or Ethernet) to access the resources.

In summary:

You can’t use the iMac as a monitor for the Mac mini, but you can connect them over a network to share files, use Universal Control, or remote into one another to control or access files. If you’re into creative or computational work, there are options for utilizing both devices’ power simultaneously as well.