News & Analysis
Inside Thunderbolt: Videos, photos, details
Rick Merritt
2/24/2011 8:12 PM EST
SANTA CLARA – As part of an in-depth briefing, we got a demo of the new Thunderbolt technology making data transfers at rates approaching 800 Mbytes/second at Intel's corporate headquarters here today.
The demo used one of the new Apple MacBook Pro systems linked via Thunderbolt to a prototype storage array from Promise Technology. A display used in the demo was not linked via Thunderbolt.
You can see a video of the demo here.
Thunderbolt demo with MacBook Pro and promise array
1. A demo of Thunderbolt
2. A look inside the controllers
3. Exploring cables and connectors
4. La Cie flash drive, other supporters
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chanj
2/25/2011 1:30 PM EST
The technology looks impressive. Any loyalty fee? The BOM cost would probably a trade secret at this point in time. Thunderbolt would be a competitor to USB3.0. It will have tough time to substitute Ethernet even with the impressive data rate.
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Sanjib.Acharya
2/25/2011 7:09 PM EST
I think "Thunderbolt" is not targeted to be substitute for Ethernet. But, yes, it would definitely be a competitor for USB 3.0.
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Robotics Developer
2/25/2011 2:23 PM EST
I wonder what the cost will be per port and what the expected cable (copper) lengths are possible. It seems interesting as a new higher speed connection but I wonder if it will garner the support from the many 3rd party motherboard producers and peripherals. Time will tell.
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Sanborn84
2/25/2011 2:38 PM EST
So why does Apple need an 800mb/sec port on their products..that's the real question.
I think it sounds like a really cool technology, when examined as LightPeak...the optical version of Thunderbolt.
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rick.merritt
2/25/2011 6:09 PM EST
UPDATE: Intel said there will be no royalties or licensing fees (not even fees for a future complaince testing program). The copper cables will extend three meters max. Active optical cables will come later this year for reach of tens of meters. And no word on costs except it is "competitive" in Gbit/$ with other techs like 10G Ethernet
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GREAT-Terry
2/26/2011 11:33 AM EST
Does it mean that Apple surely will launch the thunderbolt with its new machine? As a user, I just want to know if this will cost much.
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Luis Sanchez
2/27/2011 2:53 AM EST
I suppose it will take sometime to catch up. Is there a competitor for Thunderbolt?
Another kind of new connectivity technology which promises the same 800Mbps transfer rate?
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Neo1
2/27/2011 11:20 PM EST
They are at it again, now with an interconnect. They are eyeing this to make up for decline of PC revenues. Apple with this technology don't mean a thing if the industry gives it a pass and I feel it probably would depending on how soon they open it up.
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zhgreader
3/14/2011 1:40 AM EDT
s or p are they?
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