So the whole USB2.0/Firewire is going to repeat? Sigh.
USB2 and FireWire were close to the same speed. Thunderbolt is twice as fast as USB3 and can push DisplayPorts, so I doubt it will be the same.
Thunderbolt
21–30 of 211 posts
Re: Thunderbolt
#22Technically it seems nice, but what's up with reusing the "high voltage" symbol for this? And "thunderbolt" is a very tacky name...
I don't think using a "warning! high voltage!" symbol for this will fly in Europe... (thankfully)
Re: Thunderbolt
#23Wonder how many monitors this can push. Also, what will happen to Apples 30pin connector on their iPods,iPhones... I guess we will know Tuesday. Are there any external hard drives with thunderbolt yet?
The bandwidth is apparently entirely unimpressive. DisplayPort is currently at 17.28 Gbps, so Thunderbolt can push ... 0.6 monitors? ;) (In the worst case, at least)
I have been excited about Light Peak/Thunderbolt for a year or so now, but in that time it seems the ambitions have become smaller, and the competition has developed as well.
Re: Thunderbolt
#24Is this why Apple dumped FireWire a few years ago?
All Macs except the low end plastic MacBook and the MacBook Air have a FireWire 800 port. So, no. (Also: Why would they dump FireWire without a replacement in place or even just the lab?)
This will probably replace FireWire sooner or later.
Re: Thunderbolt
#25I can't seem to find an answer to this in the materials - is this optical or copper? Light Peak was supposed to be optical, but the Wikipedia page has unsubstantiated claims of it initially being copper.
Re: Thunderbolt
#26Is this why Apple dumped FireWire a few years ago?
All Macs except the low end plastic MacBook and the MacBook Air have a FireWire 800 port. So, no. (Also: Why would they dump FireWire without a replacement in place or even just the lab?) This will probably replace FireWire sooner or later.
This is what I meant, but thanks for your downvote anyway: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/10/apple-quietly-k/
Re: Thunderbolt
#27Can a Thunderbolt device (eg display) expose USB to peripherals? With my current setup, I connect my display via USB and DVI to my MBP in order to connect USB peripherals via the display. I'd love to break that redundant USB connection with Thunderbolt.
Re: Thunderbolt
#28So the whole USB2.0/Firewire is going to repeat? Sigh.
USB2 and FireWire were close to the same speed. Thunderbolt is twice as fast as USB3 and can push DisplayPorts, so I doubt it will be the same.
Yes, but
1) USB3 has a 1 year lead - check out how many products are out already
2) 5Gbps vs 10Gbps. There are just a couple of SSDs that need SATA III (6Gbps) because the 3Gbps isn't enough. You just don't need the speed for disk I/O. What for then? Current DisplayPorts 1.2 has 17Gbps so I don't really see the Thunderbolt replacing it.
also Firewire 800 was substantially faster in theoretical and particularly in practical throughput
Re: Thunderbolt
#29I can't seem to find an answer to this in the materials - is this optical or copper? Light Peak was supposed to be optical, but the Wikipedia page has unsubstantiated claims of it initially being copper.
> Electrical or optical cables
From http://www.intel.com/technology/io/thunderbolt/index.htm
I don't know what that means though. Does the newly released MBP support both or only one?
Re: Thunderbolt
#30Five years ago I would have been eagerly anticipating this, but I can't really get excited anymore. USB3 has probably already won, and while I love the idea of monitors and other devices all using the same port, I don't think it will be enough to drive adoption.