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Are you annoyed there is no USB 3.0?
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Not disappointed at all.
7,200 RPM External HDD (the vast majority as of now) have a transfer rate of around 1,000Mbps, while Firewire 800 transfers ~790Mbps then there wouldn't be a BIG difference in transfers with USB 3.0.
2011 MBP are really good as they come, so when upgrading to some more RAM, and a SSD in a few years, I'm sure there will be many TP peripherals available, so it's a good bet for the future.
You know, the main issue with Macs isn't its durability, but how they get obsolete before even feeling old....
7,200 RPM External HDD (the vast majority as of now) have a transfer rate of around 1,000Mbps, while Firewire 800 transfers ~790Mbps then there wouldn't be a BIG difference in transfers with USB 3.0.
2011 MBP are really good as they come, so when upgrading to some more RAM, and a SSD in a few years, I'm sure there will be many TP peripherals available, so it's a good bet for the future.
You know, the main issue with Macs isn't its durability, but how they get obsolete before even feeling old....
I don't think this is a case of USB 3.0 vs Thunderbolt as TB occupies the previous revision's mini display port and USB 3.0 was never going to be implemented with the current chipset anyway. Hopefully next year, we'll see it implemented with Ivy Bridge (which will be very interesting) but again I'm sure there'll always be something that people will be unhappy about.
Apple couldn't have implemented both with this revision. Sandy Bridge does NOT have the required chipsets for either usb 3.0 or thunderbolt, so apple had to chose which one to add. Since they helped develop thunderbolt, they obviously went with that. Intel has said they will include the chipsets for usb 3.0 in Ivy Bridge, so it's feasible that we could have both thunderbolt and usb 3.0 once Ivy Bridge is added to the mac lineup.
not really... one can't connect printers via TB, no mice or keyboards, can't connect my iDevices, etc. TB is for people who need more storage on a high I/O connection (music/movie producers dealing with large files etc.) who don't want to deal with the latency of usb. Even intel who developed TB said it's meant to be a complimentary tech, not a replacement.
Grasping at straws with that one.
Really? You're that ignorant?
Agreed, wholeheartedly. It's an addition of incredible promise. Especially for those that are using outboard storage and peripheral gear (audio/video and other creative tools), that will make HUGE strides in fast transfer both ways, as well as low to zero latency while utilizing different external tools (For me, I can't WAIT to see the offerings from both Apogee and Matrox). Matrox is already advertising "ThunderBolt Ready" with some of their off board real time encoders for H.264.
ThunderBolt is just starting....it's still in it's infancy, when they go to optical from Copper, there is a promise of 100 gb and higher transfer rates...both ways, with LONG cable runs. Something you can completely forget with USB, no matter the iteration. These arguments/disagreements remind me of the bozos that couldn't fathom ridding ourselves of serial and parallel ports...Zip drives and floppy disks. Come on guys and gals...Thunder Bolt is the Real Deal! There's no WAY companies are going to release TB peripherals without computer substructure that actually takes advantage of the technology...I mean, come on!!! The cliche cart before the horse comes to mind. Now that it's here....and supported, not only by Apple...but co-developed with Intel...NOW the cottage industry can come to life...as well as the major storage and peripheral manufacturers. There are ACTUAL computers that can ACTUALLY utilize the technology. ESPECIALLY in the creative/development industry. As well, on the consumer end....those of you that are using digital cameras, imagine the CF/SD card off load speeds when a TB card reader is developed??? You'll cut your speeds by literally 90-95%!!!!
I think someone else mentioned it earlier....it's not meant to replace at this point, hence the reason Macs still ship with USB ports. However, keep in mind...one can easily daisy chain TB devices, up to 6 with a monitor at the end of the chain. So, all TB peripherals will (or should, as do the FW800 devices) ship with twin TB ports...one for the in, the other to allow you to connect a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, et al.
USB 3 is not really here today!!! It exists in a few external hard drives. That's it. It's not even natively supported on the Intel chipsets yet...not til (as mentioned ad nauseam on soooo many threads here at MR) Ivy Bridge will USB3 be actually, natively supported...and able to handle some of it's theoretical differences over USB2. There are no peripherals at this point, other than a few hard drives on the market that support USB3. These industries have also taken the wait and see approach with the initial Light Peak, now TB rumors. Now that one of the two HAS been implemented, the rest of the world will catch up. It won't take long friends...it's here to stay, and unlike FW800, it's going to be a game changer in my very humble opinion. I, as well as many video/audio/digital editing pros have waited a LONG, LONG time for this kind of speed. In this case, it truly equates to making more money in a lot less time.
It's amazing to me how many people just respond to threads withOUT actually reading them!!! There is NO support from INTEL for USB3...YET!!!! Apple can NOT implement native USB3 and TB on the same board, until Intel does! Period. It can't be done!!! Maybe though...>JUST maybe, Apple will surprise everyone next year, with the 2012 refresh across the gamut with Ivy Bridge, the implementation of USB 3.0. They DID update USB 1.1 spec to USB 2.0, remember? When Intel follows suit, perhaps Apple will too. USB is not the equivalent of Apple's lack of Blu Ray implementation. It's a connection standard. And one that's not quite ready for prime time yet. These 2nd tier, 3rd party solutions are not what Apple is looking for. They're (most likely) waiting for native support ON the chipset rather than stuffing some half baked answer to the standard inside one of their (or ALL of their) boxes. Period
To the OP....No, it does not annoy me at all. What does annoy me though, are folks that respond to threads WITHOUT reading the previous comments!!!
J
ohhh my... finally someone with some common sense!!
can't tell you how many times i have posted the same info in this thread but people just continue to argue... Apple gave us vaporware, i can't use this port yet... umm yes you can it's the same port that's been on the mbp for the last few years, but this summer you will also be able to connect it to other peripherals that are released.
Also have said a million times SNB does NOT support usb 3.0, wait for IVY BRIDGE, because then the chipset will be included in the processor architecture and won't require additional controllers on the logic board to work.
And why people think drives would be available before apple and intel released thunderbolt is still beyond me. Hey look at this nice 2TB drive that I can't use at all... guess i'll buy it so it can sit on my shelf until someone releases a port on their computer that it will work with.
Thank you sir, for actually reading and trying to help...
unfortunately others still won't read so they don't understand why there are no drives, or why apple didn't include usb 3.0 Our battle is hopeless because people just jump to conclusions without reading the data that's right in front of them...
can't tell you how many times i have posted the same info in this thread but people just continue to argue... Apple gave us vaporware, i can't use this port yet... umm yes you can it's the same port that's been on the mbp for the last few years, but this summer you will also be able to connect it to other peripherals that are released.
Also have said a million times SNB does NOT support usb 3.0, wait for IVY BRIDGE, because then the chipset will be included in the processor architecture and won't require additional controllers on the logic board to work.
And why people think drives would be available before apple and intel released thunderbolt is still beyond me. Hey look at this nice 2TB drive that I can't use at all... guess i'll buy it so it can sit on my shelf until someone releases a port on their computer that it will work with.
Thank you sir, for actually reading and trying to help...
unfortunately others still won't read so they don't understand why there are no drives, or why apple didn't include usb 3.0 Our battle is hopeless because people just jump to conclusions without reading the data that's right in front of them...
No, perhaps we do understand that Intel doesn't provide support for USB 3.0 in their current chipset. That doesn't mean that Apple couldn't add it on though, much like Asus, Gigabye, Acer, Dell, HP, and ASRock.
Apple's just lazy, and it's annoying.
then obviously you don't understand that they had to chose to add the chipset for EITHER usb 3.0 OR thunderbolt.... NOT BOTH
If you helped develop a technology (thunderbolt) which would you chose?
More people that can't read!
Not really...even using Thunderbolt, which is far faster than USB3, is not that important to me. What will USB3 and Thunderbolt really give a huge speed advantage to other than external flash storage systems and enterprise grade RAIDed drives? Most HDDs are limited by nature in terms of speed, and external SSDs are not very common. Most people do not run RAIDed HDD systems for back-up, and most modern external devices are not impacted by speed issues that are so slow it justifies spending more money.
Furthermore, the compatibility of USB2, combined with ridiculously cheap prices, exceptional reliability, and great availability, makes it the popular choice. IMO this is why FireWire failed as most people just never justified the need to upgrade. Yes, eSATA is great, but it is not necessary and I could care less if it and USB3 are not standard features.
IMO, the short-term uncertainty of future high speed transfer links is why Apple and Intel are going for Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is more versatile and offers features beyond speed...convenience, simplification, and clutter reduction. These are potential reasons to upgrade as instead of plugging 8 things into your laptop every day when you get home from work, you can plug 1 in. Logitech has gone this method for their keyboards and mice IMO for the same reason of most consumers not finding a need for a performance increase.
Furthermore, the compatibility of USB2, combined with ridiculously cheap prices, exceptional reliability, and great availability, makes it the popular choice. IMO this is why FireWire failed as most people just never justified the need to upgrade. Yes, eSATA is great, but it is not necessary and I could care less if it and USB3 are not standard features.
IMO, the short-term uncertainty of future high speed transfer links is why Apple and Intel are going for Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is more versatile and offers features beyond speed...convenience, simplification, and clutter reduction. These are potential reasons to upgrade as instead of plugging 8 things into your laptop every day when you get home from work, you can plug 1 in. Logitech has gone this method for their keyboards and mice IMO for the same reason of most consumers not finding a need for a performance increase.
Did you think that Apple wants support the connector it helped develop? Thats seems more likely to me. Apple is rarely a "lazy" computer designer...times they makes choices you(we) disagree with as users, but most of the time they are for a reason on their end(supporting the technology, making more money, etc)
I'm not say we have to take it, but thats why there are so many hardware makers.
As for being made without USB 3.0, I don't really care. I haven't bought into either USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt yet, so I will just plan to buy into Thunderbolt as my Macs will most likely support it in the future.
Although USB 3.0 would be nice because it would work with my Air as USB 2.0(but I'm assuming most of the Thunderbolt things I'd use with my Air(like external HDD) will also support USB 2.0) Also 3.0 would allow me to work quickly with PC when I have use them with friends, family or work.
But I do like Thunderbolt more as a technology. Still I'll be happy when Apple supports both(I assume that will happen)
just ignore these guys they don't read the thread or news or links posted and just see other computers with usb 3.0 so they think because apple doesn't have it, they are a lazy company.
I've tried saying it a hundred times in this thread but just keep repeating myself to deaf ears.... people who want to believe what's in their head rather than the facts you lay out right in front of them are hopeless... it's really become rather pointless to argue with them at this point, there's no changing their minds!
Mice, printers and keyboards wouldn't need the speed increase from USB2 to USB3 anyway.
Actually, none of that is true. Thunderbolt is a game-changer.
Thunderbolt is just PCIe over a cable. There will be Thunderbolt-to-<insert interface> adapters. Thunderbolt is a replacement for PCMCIA/ExpressCard, just with a significant performance improvement (400% over ExpressCard) and a very clever form-factor design and the ability to deliver bus power.
Sonnet already has a great number of options showing up in a couple of months.
I think we will see plenty of storage with a plain pair of "Thunderbolt" connectors, but we will also see a large number of "dongle" type adapters like Sonnet's FireWire bridge.
Kudos to Intel on this. Smart engineering and design.
where did i say that they would?
OP said that thunderbolt makes usb obsolete... ummm no, it doesn't, can't plug mice, keyboard, printers, iphones, ipads, etc. into it so the usb ports aren't obsolete and can't be replaced by thunderbolt ports, at least not at this time.
umm yes it is true actually... go plug your usb mouse into the thunderbolt port and tell me how that works out for you...
I never said that thunderbolt wouldn't get adapters, i never said at some point in time it couldn't replace usb... but as of right now thunderbolt does NOT make usb obsolete.
I don't need a lesson on thunderbolt, thanks i know what it is... try reading the thread
and tell me where in the link you provided is there a thunderbolt to usb adapter? yeah there isn't... so once again tell me how you're going to plug your usb accessories into that tb port???