LightPeak->Thunderbolt: Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology

[n!Cola]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...ntil_2012.html

So it is Apple exclusive tech till spring 2012 ?

[SKYMTL]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...ntil_2012.html

So it is Apple exclusive tech till spring 2012 ?

If Apple helped fund development, then that may be the case but IMO it would be an absolutely ridiculous decision by both parties. It would choke off competition in a segment that is DRIVEN by the PC's widespread market share.

Not allowing PC manufacturers to implement Thunderbolt from the onset will basically push it into a niche which is NOT something that will aid acceptance.

Also, this little tidbit is patently wrong:

The new standard is not backwardly compatible with USB 3.0, and Thunderbolt ports can't be added to existing PCs via an expansion card; Intel says the only way to have it is to buy a system or logic board that incorporates the new Thunderbolt controller chip. That's because the Thunderbolt chip needs direct access to both the system's video and PCI Express architecture.

Intel details in their White Paper that backwards compatibility CAN be achieved by using a PCI-E bridge chip in parallel with a TB controller. This in effect would allow either add-in cards or stand-alone adaptors to be created. The press conference never mentioned that it wasn't possible, they just said that it would take additional logic to be implemented.

Here's the passage from the White Paper:

Users can always connect to their other non-Thunderbolt products at the end of a daisy chain by using Thunderbolt technology adapters (e.g., to connect to native PCI Express
devices like eSata, Firewire, etc.). These adapters can be easily built using a Thunderbolt controller with off-the-shelf PCI Express-to-“other technology” controllers.

[bamtan2]

Also, this little tidbit is patently wrong:



Intel details in their White Paper that backwards compatibility CAN be achieved by using a PCI-E bridge chip in parallel with a TB controller. This in effect would allow either add-in cards or stand-alone adaptors to be created. The press conference never mentioned that it wasn't possible, they just said that it would take additional logic to be implemented.

Here's the passage from the White Paper:

I think you are misunderstanding. that quote is talking about something different. it says a company can build an ethernet adapter that plugs into thunderbolt. meanwhile that mac site says a company cannot build a pci-e card that outputs thunderbolt because there is no way to get the video to the card.

[SKYMTL]

I think you are misunderstanding. that quote is talking about something different. it says a company can build an ethernet adapter that plugs into thunderbolt. meanwhile that mac site says a company cannot build a pci-e card that outputs thunderbolt because there is no way to get the video to the card.

There is nothing in the passage I quoted which indicates they are talking about Ethernet.

And yes, just like the DisplayPort functions can be used without passing a PCI-E signal to a secondary device, the PCI-E signal can be sent without piggybacking on a display signal.

[bamtan2]

There is nothing in the passage I quoted which indicates they are talking about Ethernet.

And yes, just like the DisplayPort functions can be used without passing a PCI-E signal to a secondary device, the PCI-E signal can be sent without piggybacking on a display signal.

It was an example. Let me clarify:

Thunderbolt technology enables engineers to:

Extend to reach other I/O technologies by using adapters that use widely available PCI Express controllers. It's simple to create a Gigabit Ethernet, or FireWire, or eSATA adapters using existing device PCI Express drivers.

http://www.intel.com/technology/io/t...bolt/index.htm

10:34 a.m. (Dong Ngo) : There won't be add-in TB adapters, you'll need a new computer/motherboard that supports TB.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20...ap;editorPicks


So, like I said. There are no adapters which output Thunderbolt. There are only adapters for pcie devices which plug into Thunderbolt. "Adapter" is apparently not a clearly defined word right now, thus some confusion.

[bamtan2]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...ntil_2012.html

So it is Apple exclusive tech till spring 2012 ?

that report is unclear. basically bad reporting.

PC makers are expected to begin adding Thunderbolt to their machines next spring, giving Apple a year to trailblaze the technology

That to me reads like board makers dont want it. They're taking a wait-and-see approach and told intel "maybe next year". But since they're unclear, how can you tell?

Well, a commenter says this: "According to the CNET article, it's not that Apple has an exclusive. Intel just thinks that PC manufacturers will probably wait until their next design cycles to implement."

[vengance_01]

While this looks very cool, traditional Hard drives will have a very hard time putting this to good use. Until SSD drives come way down in price, its usability in the home market will be very limited.