Thunderbolt 3 embraces USB Type-C connector, doubles bandwidth to 40Gbps

Post by genericuser » Tue, Jun 02, 2015, 4:30 PM UTC

matthewmacleod wrote: post #114

genericuser wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just want to thank you for qualifying your description of Apple's contribution to USB-C in a correct manner, as opposed to perpetuating the myth that Apple invented USB-C. It's initial conception having come out of the USB 3.1 development by AMD, HP, Intel, and Microsoft. It is refreshing to see someone not spreading the revisionist history that has been popular on this subject.

I have literally never seen anybody claim that Apple invented USB-C, and I read a lot of stupidity. Was this really common?

Post by dmayle » Tue, Jun 02, 2015, 4:43 PM UTC

lectrick wrote: post #35

izacus wrote: post #14

Hmm, I don't understand the description fully - does that mean that it can happen that I can get a device with USB-C plug, plug it into computer and it won't work because the device uses Thunderbolt 3 and the computer isn't an Apple? Or will all Thunderbolt 3 devices be able to scale back and communicate with devices over USB if the controller is not available? How will that work with displays over USB-C connectors?…

For the record, 1) Apple was the first to use USB even though it wasn't an Apple tech 2) Apple was the first to use Thunderbolt even though it wasn't an Apple tech 3) Apple is now the first to use USB 3 Type C (aka "USB-C") even though it wasn't an Apple tech (although rumor has it that Apple engineers had a lot of input on it) The technology you're probably confusing it with is FireWire, which WAS Apple tech.

Post by toothbrush » Tue, Jun 02, 2015, 5:04 PM UTC

ghshephard wrote: post #26

awalton wrote: post #18

Ugh Intel. We just fixed the USB problem of "I can't figure out which way to plug this thing in", why do you have to go and add the complication of "Wait, is this a Thunderbolt or USB C device/port?" This is why we can't have nice things.

I think you've got it backwards - if I'm reading this correctly, and you own a (for the sake of argument), 2016 MacBook Pro - your Thunderbolt 3 ports will support everything. USB/Thunderbolt are now using the same physical interface (no need for dongles), and Thunderbolt 3 will support USB 3.1. In the incredibly rare (will likely never be seen by an average consumer) scenario that you have some high-end equipment th…

Post by robotresearcher » Tue, Jun 02, 2015, 5:35 PM UTC

cmsj wrote: post #123

orbitur wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the Apple TB Display is comparable here. If you have a rare TB device, you're probably a professional, and yes, you'll need to ensure the TB logo is on the port. If it's an extremely common USB device, it'll work on any port, without exception. The Apple Thunderbolt monitors are Apple's fault. There was no reason they couldn't have accepted a raw DisplayPort signal, but they still didn't.

FWIW, one reason would be that they'd needed to have somehow worked a USB connection into the mix, for pure DisplayPort ports, otherwise you have no way to control the brightness, use the camera, or the audio output.

Post by jawngee » Tue, Jun 02, 2015, 5:55 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #100

jawngee wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

from FW 400 -> 800 you could use an adaptor, but for Thunderbolt you're out of luck completely No you aren't: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Thunderbolt-to-FireWire-Adapter/...

That only works in one direction. You can use it to connect FireWire devices to a computer with Thunderbolt, but you can't use it to connect Thunderbolt devices to a computer with FireWire. Contrast with USB. I can go out and buy a USB storage device brand new off the shelf in 2015, plug it into an iMac from 1998, and it will work. It will be slow but it will work out of the box.