As I've mentioned before, I think that the most popular TBolt peripheral will be a little box with two to four eSATA ports (PM capable), four to six USB 3.0 ports, and a gigabit ethernet. Those would fly off the shelves like hotcakes. (and I'm only suggesting that the TBolt display would have been a better docking station with eSATA and USB 3.0 ports)
Hopefully some 3rd party manufacturer hears our prays.
Remember that we're talking about Apple here, which only has one limited production model with a standard PCIe graphics capability. Everything else is soldered to the mobo, integrated, or on obscure daughtercards. How can you make any argument about worrying over the GPU in the display, when you'd have to throw away the entire Apple computer if you get tired of the GPU?
The display could have something that's far, far faster than Intel HD 3000 - or even low end and mid-range discrete mobile GPUs. If your computer has a faster GPU, then you use the display as a DisplayPort monitor and ignore the GPU in the monitor.
Anyway, there's no reason that the display couldn't have a PCIe x16 connector inside, and take any GPU that fits the power envelope and the case. Even if it were constrained to a low-profile card with an mDP - there would be lots of options before too long.
Though the concept of a GPU would be great in display+dock as we have here, you have to remember that it would push the price tag that much higher. Meaning out of reach for many MacMini and MBA/Pro users. Might appeal to the deep pockets of MP users though. Plus you have to factor in heat from the GPU itself, it might be a non-issue if designed correctly. However can you imagine the complaints
will be receiving from its customers. It would complicate a product that is meant to be simple and universal.
Adding a GPU, what next a ULV CPU and what we have here is the iMac revision X. Its quite clear that
is trying to dissemble the iMac into the TB ACD and MacMini, MBA/Pro options. As the iMac cannot break anymore industrial designs from here on end. Making it larger, thinner, lighter its all marketing of sex appeal that will grow stale from the rehashed iMac flat. At least we should be grateful to some degree that they have added some more ports to the ACD.
But Apple are calling it the "ultimate dock", when it's really nothing more than a display with the same features as $150 port replicator.
I'm trying to describe a TBolt display that would be the "ultimate dock".
Come on now Shaw you and I know better than that. Its
marketing BS, it might be the "Ultimate Dock" available for the Mac, which is a twisted truth, however its a spin similar to the previous spins on marketing they have used and had to remove by law. Remember the "Slimmest Portable" that claim was only made for about a week before it was changed as Sony offered something slimmer. There were other claims in the past as well, no point in bring it up.
And what puzzles me is that Apple and its fans can obsess over an extra mm of thickness, or the color of the keys - yet have no problems over the idea of buying this "work of art" and surrounding it with a rat's nest of cables and external peripherals to replace the components that were stripped out to save that mm.
Sex appeal marketing for thinest, lightest, so on, nothing more. The TB ACD would cause a "rats nest" no more than the Sony Dock. Though AirPlay, UPnP, DLNA all seem promising. The simple truth is that the speed is just no up to par when compared to wires. Again its all marketing and some people would rather spend X amount more on a Sexy ACD then a comparable Dell Display. Seems Steve Jobs RFD has a range unheard of compared to they last financial call. Must be an antenna with a big power boost.
What's the story with some NAS boxes not working with Lion? (Serious question, what is the issue?)
Using Lion GM for about 2 weeks now and no problems interacting with the Linux NAS. Minor Flash issues that I found a work around, however nothing major. I am sure it will get fixed in the coming months. DLNA works like a charm so does TM and FTP.
Like you I also really wanted a MiniMac Pro Tower, however I gave up the wait and found something better for cheaper and less restrictive. Sure its not running Mac OS X, however I do not see the need as it handles everything else rather well including being a mail server, and a web host.
As a consumer, its your choice to not buy everything
throws at you. I feel most of the products
sells has sex appeal, however since it does not fit within my requirements I will purchase something comparable if not better. TC, AirPort Extreme/Express, iMac another waste of money.
With the release of this "Ultimate Dock" It seems like a short lived revised product as once IvyBridge supports USB 3.0, all the other hardware is basically forced to support it, this TB ACD will need a revision.
In a perfect world, I would have a quad-core Mac Mini Server as my desktop machine, and and a fully loaded 13" MBA.
In a perfect world
would have the ability to install a 3.5" HDD in the MacMini, however that will not jive with marketing as it cannot claim to use less power than a CFL Bulb.
I'm not surprised at all by my disappointment in this release.
With this "discrete graphics" chip (hah) all hopes of a modest, desktop-class, headless Mac are now gone.
Time to upgrade the ol' xHack, I guess.
-Clive
Well at least the MacMin now comes with discreet GPU, better than integrated.
The only headless Mac, I loved was the G4 Cube, however the market sales called it a fail and
admitted it.
might shrink the MP a little to the point of a Mini MacPro, I guess.
