Using MacBook Pro as a second screen

[x-ray vision]

My wife is a first grade teacher and she's having a tough time using Google Meet for remote learning as she just lost having an assistant. With Google Meet, it is difficult to view your students while sharing your screen.

She tried signing in to both her Macbook Pro and Macbook Air at the same time, but there would be a horrible feedback sound coming from both machines, even with the volume muted.

We would like to use the Air as the main machine, and use a cable to connect to the Pro and use the Pro as a second monitor as a solution (unless you know of a solution to the feedback issue).

Can you please let me know which kind of cable I would need to do this? Below are the machine details.

MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)

Thanks.

 

[hobowankenobi]

You won't be able to use one as a second monitor, in the traditional sense.

How about using an actual monitor? Do you have a spare in the house? How about a TV? Most newer TVs have HDMI in, and you could get an HDMI adapter for either Mac.

Let's see if others have another solution.

 

[Longkeg]

What you’re trying to do is called “Target Disk Mode.” iMacs can do it. Mac Books not so much. There may be hacks or work arounds but it won’t be as simple as patching a cable between them. A plain old monitor of any make will let you expand screen real estate easily. Any chance your wife’s school has some old Dell (or similar) flat screen monitors laying around?

 

[chabig]

MacBooks don’t work as displays. To fix the feedback, mute both the second computer’s speaker and also the microphone.
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What you’re trying to do is called “Target Disk Mode.” iMacs can do it. Mac Books not so much.

You’re thinking of a Target Display Mode. Not “disk” mode.

 

[chrfr]

What you’re trying to do is called “Target Disk Mode.” iMacs can do it. Mac Books not so much. There may be hacks or work around that may work but it won’t be as simple as patching a cable between them. A plain old monitor of any make will let you expand screen real estate easily. Any chance your wife’s school has some old Dell (or similar) flat screen monitors laying around?

You mean Target Display Mode. Laptops can do Target Disk Mode without an issue, but the display mode is, as you said, not an option for anything but some older iMacs. I agree that getting a simple display is a much easier option.

 

[Longkeg]

Disk, Display.... those pesky D words always confuse me. Good catch.

 

[x-ray vision]

Thanks for the info, guys. Looks like the Macbook as a second monitor is out. We have an older desktop monitor for the PC. I'm out of town for a while, but I'll have her see what model it is and see if that'll work. Doing this on the phone with her is rough. She doesn't follow directions that well.

To fix the feedback, mute both the second computer’s speaker and also the microphone.

She says she did that. I'll have her try again tonight.

 

[chabig]

She says she did that. I'll have her try again tonight.

That ought to fix it, but I suppose it's possible that if two computers are signed in using the same account, muting the microphone on one might affect both. If she cannot mute just the second computer's microphone without affecting the primary computer, she might be able to physically cover the second computer microphone with something like a piece of rubber or foam taped on.

 

[hobowankenobi]

And don't forget that a basic USB headset as a different mic/audio out should easily solve the feedback too...while improving the audio quality for listeners. Tons of tutorials and info out there....here is a good one for edu folks doing remote instruction.

 

[hallux]

If she cannot mute just the second computer's microphone without affecting the primary computer

Maybe in the video chat/instruction app, but what about muting using the system controls?

 

[chabig]

That's a good idea if you can figure out how to do it. System Preferences > sound doesn't have the ability to turn off the microphone, but you could probably go to System Preferences > Privacy and take away microphone privileges for Google Meet.

 

[x-ray vision]

And don't forget that a basic USB headset as a different mic/audio out should easily solve the feedback too...while improving the audio quality for listeners. Tons of tutorials and info out there....here is a good one for edu folks doing remote instruction.

She has a pair of wired headphones that came with her iPhone 6 and we just tried it out. Perfect! Thanks for all of the help everyone!