Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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Could this be USB2 vs FW400/800 all over again? While thunderbolt sounds impressive, and seems able to run other I/O connections - like USB3 - with the proper adaptors, USB3 seems to have a head start, and zero impact on cost. This weekend I dropped-in to my local discount computer shop and the nearby Costco. I noticed USB3 hard-drives everywhere, and at essentially the same price as their USB2 drives. Customers seemed aware that the USB3 drives were faster, backwards compatible, and "furure proof". FW was virtually gone. Just a couple of pricier cases at the discount shop (nothing at Costco) and nobody looking for/at it.
Thunderbolt offers unprecedented speed, I/O flexibility, and Intel support, but there are no devices, nor, at the moment, any really unique, headline grabbing, implementations. Video/Audio and imaging might jump on it for both its bandwidth and flexibility and the ability to connect some legacy equipment via adaptor. Uses that sound less ubiquitous and more specialized. Of course, USB3 can also be added via adaptor, but then there's no reason for the peripheral makers to adopt Thunderbolt USB3 already seems solidly perched to become the convenience connector. Good enough for what most people want - fast storage on a ubiquitous connection. How long before Intel simply adds it to their motherboards and Apple soon after? ......................................... |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Unknown
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Are many computers shipping with USB3 though? I honestly don't know, but I was under the impression that Intel had delayed USB3 implementation on it's products. So anything running an Intel motherboard would seem unlikely to have USB3 - unless it was added by the OEM. In other words, did the peripheral manufacturers jump the gun on USB3?
I think the biggest difference between the USB/Firewire battle and the USB3/Thunderbolt battle is the Intel factor. What level that impact is remains to be seen, but I think it's safe to assume that just about any Intel motherboards from here out will have Thunderbolt on them. That's a much better playing field than Firewire had. Do you know where children get all of their energy? - They suck it right out of their parents! |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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Yeah, I should have included that bit too. I wasn't looking hard, but I didn't notice one single computer with USB3. Maybe the branding wasn't as prominent, or more likely, they just weren't there. These days Costco is more of a low-end, end-of-run, technological oddity stockist when it comes to certain electronics. I didn't walk throught he laptop section section of the shop, but I don't think that the Computer store was much differnt.
I think there are some HP and other branded lappies with USB3 though... ......................................... |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
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Integrating the display data seems to have caused a problem with Thunderbolt.
USB3 can have 127 devices attached. T-bolt can have six, and you have to worry about device order. I have no idea what Apple was thinking. |
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http://ga.rgoyle.com
Join Date: May 2004
Location: In your dock hiding behind your finder icon!
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Apple was probably thinking about the people with 3 or 4 devices... not crazy mofo's with 127 webcams!!
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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is the next Chiquita
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Who actually attaches even just a dozen USB devices? I don't see that much. That said, six is fairly limited, but comparing it to USB is missing the point. Compare it to how many PCIe slots a tower has. That's what this essentially is: external PCIe (and DisplayPort). A RAID, an audio and video device each and an external graphics card, and you still haven't used up all six.
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
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I get that Chucker, but this thread is premised on a USB vs. Thunderbolt smackdown.
Device support is the only real area where USB handily beats TB. I think if one prevails over the other, that will be a factor. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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I think because we're not seeing many other uses right now, popular device support is a big deal, and like we saw with USB2 (and even 1.1 to some extent) even though USB may not be the ideal format for things like A/V, plenty of devices eventually came out for it, just 'cause it was so popular.
I see thunderbolt as a great way to finally separate the computer completely from the Display & I/O. Imagine an iMac-like doc. It has all your ports, card reader, webcam, even an optical drive. Your mac though, is just a completely sealed box. It only has two ports: a power plug, and a thunderbolt port. Pro versions might have two ports and a video card slot. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
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I wouldn't worry too much about the dearth of TB device availability. The place to judge TB device support will be NAB in April.
That will showcase high-end video and storage applications, that TB will need to truly succeed. |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Off-topic (click to toggle):
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careful with axes
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Hillsborough, CA
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The only thing that will kill USB 3.0 is time. We're not going to see Thunderbolt mice, keyboards, consumer audio devices, dongles, monitor calibration tools, etc. any time soon. Those devices are still going to need some sort of USB port, and we know that USB 3.0 is being incorporated very cheaply on system boards thanks to NEC/Renesas. Intel (Panther Point) and AMD (900 series) both have USB 3.0 built-in. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
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I don't see why they can't coexist very happily.
Mini-display ports aren't completely absent from Apple's competitors and there you have the same advantages of backwards compatibility as USB3: take a port you already have on your computer, keep it backwards compatible but add powerful new capabilities to it. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
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Yeah, but in order to "co-exist" Apple has to put at least one USB3 port on a computer.
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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TB -> USB3 adapter.
Only $19 at the Apple Store! |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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I like Thunderpork and I wish to subscribe to its newsletter.
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is the next Chiquita
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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I hope the main use for Thunderbolt doesn't end being as a port for USB3 dongles.
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Space Pirate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
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USB has humping doggies.
What amazing useless gizmos could they make for Thunderbong? ... |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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Humping WOLVES man!
WOLVES!!! |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
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Daisy-chained, of course.
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careful with axes
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Hillsborough, CA
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Panther Point will be released at the end of the year with USB 3.0 support or maybe early 2012. The Thunderbolt controller is far too large and exotic to be incorporated at the chipset level.
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Space Pirate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
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Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!!
Thunderbolt is coming to PCs, finally, and for real. Quote:
and it might even be coming to iPhones and iPads as was pondered previously. ... |
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careful with axes
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Hillsborough, CA
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The Lenovo and other laptops are going to be more important for Thunderbolt adoption than the Intel retail motherboard. I'm wondering it it's just a separate controller bundled with the rest of the chipset or they really incorporated Thundebolt into one version of the 7-Series chipset.
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Space Pirate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
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It's been awesome being an early adopter of Thunderfart, and I hope to actually plug something into that port within the next 18 months!!! So excited!!!!!
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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Somebody get drew a peripheral, he's risking electrocution...
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: State of Flux
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Seems to be Cap'n Drew at the helm.
Tangential perhaps (not relevant, forgive), but shouldn't there be a vs. FW800 in the title? |
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