Thunderbolt but no USB3. iMac.

Johnmb wrote: »

No, "for whatever reason" being that Jobs doesn't seem too bothered about it. Apple are quite happy to use 3rd party alternatives to supplement Intel shortcomings if/when they want to. The reason they didn't bother this time is because they didn't want to.

Jobs has said that Apple don't have USB 3.0 support because Intel don't provide it. Why should Apple re-architect the hardware to support it this year when they would need to perform the same process again next year when the Intel chipset will provide the support? It makes no financial sense to waste money doing so as USB 3.0 isn't a major selling point this year. Apple aren't in the habit of pissing away money for the sake of doing so.

The OS can handle it, and the hardware can handle it with a little modification that Apple could easily make if they wanted. They fact that they haven't done so says it all really. They'll most likely only adopt USB3 if TB becomes a lame duck, and I can't see that happening. And while some people seem to think this is an Apple thing, it's not, it's an Intel thing. Unless they monumentally fcuk up, TB will be the winner. It is the better technology, with the major PC player pushing it. AMD are small fry compared to Intel, and I don't think Intel can refuse to license their technologies to AMD users even if they wanted to.

You talk some amount of rubbish, the OS supports it already and the hardware will support it in next years revision not in your "most likely" scenario. You say "it (TB) is the better technology" yet you bitch about Apple/Intel not providing immediate support for USB 3.

Talisman wrote: »

I try to stay out of these pissing contests - learned my lesson in the Blu ray debate.

Here is something to consider when you're talking about Light Peak/Thunderbolt versus USB 3.0 and beyond - Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI). All electronic products need to be certified, higher speeds of data transfer over copper wire increase the level of EMI generated. Thunderbolt will be moving to optic fibre when the price of optic connectors fall to acceptable levels and won't be affected by EMI, unlike USB. As USB transfer speeds increase they will create more EMI and in a world where producing more environmentally friendly products is the way forward the acceptable levels of EMI to meet standards are revised down, not up.

This is not speculation - it is reality and all hardware manufacturers are aware of it.

The EMI generated from a USB cable (even a high speed one) pales in comparison to the EMI generated from the transformer in the power supply of the computer. I don't think that is a significant argument in favor of TB to be honest.

Johnmb wrote: »

I think TB will beat USB3 the same way Blu Ray beat HD DVD, so I have no problems with any company not bothering with USB3, especially if it's a company I'm likely to be getting my stuff off in the future. If Intel had used the original Lightpeak, then USB would still have a place. But the TB specs really make USB redundant. It will come down to marketing as to whether or not USB survives, and unless Intel price themselves out of the market, I can't see them losing.

Blu Ray beat HD DVD because it offered higher storage but both technologies were backward compatible too. Plus sony and panasonic out-marketed microsoft and toshiba. However, during this debate the example of VHS vs Betamax was often referred to, and how in this case the better technology actually lost.

TB has faster top theoretical speeds than USB3.0 but how long until the hardware can take advantage of this difference? The connection is only one link of the chain.

TB is more expensive to implement, each device needs its own TB controller. While it has been said that the controller is suitable for mobile devices, it is still an increase in cost and space for manufactures.

It is more practical to update to USB3.0. USB is already used in billions of devices so backward compatibility is essential. This is going to be something customers want built-into their computers. Most people do not want to carry around a bag of expensive adapters just to carry out basic operations such as connect to displays, printers, mice, flash drives (at the same time) etc.

For this reason most experts predict that TB will exist as a high speed connection running alongside USB3.0.

Brilliant!