Use MacBook Pro as second monitor for iMac?

Solution 1:

You can not use your MacBook Pro as a second monitor for your iMac without additional software.

ScreenRecycler claims to allow you to expand your desktop across multiple computers.

Screen shot from ScreenRecycler website

As an alternative approach, Synergy (previously open source at synergy-foss.org) claims to lets you combine multiple computers into one. It will let you use both computers from a single keyboard and mouse.

Synergy