Question for Apple Mac Geniuses

[2MuchMark]

So I have 2 iMac 27's connected via cable to extend my desktop. This works perfectly.

I want to add a 3rd mac to extend my desktop even further but I can't use a cable. What I can do instead though is use VNC Server.

I connect to the server and it works well, except that VNC is displaying the 3rd computer's screen on to my existing desktop space. It's in the way, making an extended desktop pointless.

Is there a way to configure VNC to use the 3rd screen as a true extended desktop without mirroring / windowing that screen inside my existing screens?

[shake]

So do I understand correctly the second and now third iMacs are simply acting as monitors?

I'm running 2 external displays off my macbook air. One via USB the other via displayport to HDMI.

[Babaganoosh]

Bwaaahaha. My Windows box has 4 monitors. Sounds like Apple has a lot of catching up to do.

[chloelewis]

I used AirDisplay before to use my iPad for a second screen. You can use another Mac too
Air Display on the Mac App Store

[kkkkkk]

Originally Posted by chloelewis

I used AirDisplay before to use my iPad for a second screen. You can use another Mac too
Air Display on the Mac App Store

That's fucking hot

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by Babaganoosh

Bwaaahaha. My Windows box has 4 monitors. Sounds like Apple has a lot of catching up to do.

On a tower PC you can have dual video cards or video cards with quad outputs like I have on my PC already. As I said in my OP, I'm trying to do this with iMacs, not a PC, and not with a Mac Pro. An iMac has its monitor and computer built into the same cabinet, and has a single video port out the back. You can connect additional monitors to it using a USB to Display Port cable of some kind but I don't have one. And besides I want to do this wirelessly or through the existing network.

Originally Posted by shake

So do I understand correctly the second and now third iMacs are simply acting as monitors?

I'm running 2 external displays off my macbook air. One via USB the other via displayport to HDMI.

Sort of but not quite. I'll try to explain in more detail.

On my current setup, I have 2 x iMacs (A and B) connected to each other via the display port. Each one can act as an extended desktop to the other IMac (A to B, and B to A). I can mouse and drag across the entire extended desktop between both monitors of course.

I have another Mac (C), itself connected to a secondary monitor (D), forming its own extended desktop. (C to D)

So now what I want to do is make 1 giant desktop across all 4 monitors, A,B, C, D.

The catch is: This isn't 1 computer and 4 monitors (Babaganoosh), this is 3 computers and 4 monitors.

Next catch, is that the 3rd computer (C) is not connected to the display port of the other 2 computers (A & B). So to make it work, I have to extend the desktop wirelessly or through the network.

So the good part is, I got it all to work. Each of the 3 computers can extend its desktop across all of the 4 monitors. It works well, BUT -

Here is the last catch:

In order to see monitor C or D from Computer A, a "virtual" monitor appears on Monitor A, which is in the way of whatever else I want to see. I can still use it and it still works, but its not as natural as simply mousing over to monitors C and D.

I feel like there is a simple config setting somewhere that I am missing, but I can't find it.

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by chloelewis

I used AirDisplay before to use my iPad for a second screen. You can use another Mac too
Air Display on the Mac App Store

Thanks Chloe,

I saw AirDisplay already - does it support 4 monitors (3 computers + 1)? I will probably end up buying it just to test, but since OS.X includes VNC server already which lets you share displays, I think AirDisplay isn't really needed. Regardless I'll try again and if not, get AirDisplay and let you know if it worked out or not.

Cheers!