confusion over thunderbolt

[wfriedwald]

so how many kinds of thunderbolt ports are there?

I assumed that the thunderbolt ports on the mac mini would be the same as the thunderbolt ports on IOS devices. But they seem to be completely different - in fact, what I have been told are thunderbolt ports on a new iPod Touch, my 2014 MacBook air, and the new Mac Mini are all completely different. Three varieties of thunderbolt.

one thing that would be useful would be an adapter that lets me go from the Thunderbolt ports on the Mac Mini to a traditional USB3 three cable, since I don't need that many monitors, but I do have tons and tons of external USB3 hard drives.

thanks for any feedback,

w

 

[chrfr]

so how many kinds of thunderbolt ports are there?

I assumed that the thunderbolt ports on the mac mini would be the same as the thunderbolt ports on IOS devices. But they seem to be completely different - in fact, what I have been told are thunderbolt ports on a new iPod Touch, my 2014 MacBook air, and the new Mac Mini are all completely different. Three varieties of thunderbolt.

one thing that would be useful would be an adapter that lets me go from the Thunderbolt ports on the Mac Mini to a traditional USB3 three cable, since I don't need that many monitors, but I do have tons and tons of external USB3 hard drives.

thanks for any feedback,

w

Your iPod touch does not have a Thunderbolt port. It’s probably a Lightning port. There are no iOS devices which have Thunderbolt.

 

[wfriedwald]

Thank you! I was confusing the two. Clearly! Thank you for clearing up the difference in terms of Apple's elemental, meteorological centric nomenclature!

PS: so is there a cable or adapter that will go from the Thunderbolt (not lightning) port on the Mac Mini to a standard USB3 external drive?

thanks!

w

 

[Ploki]

Thank you! I was confusing the two. Clearly! Thank you for clearing up the difference in terms of Apple's elemental, meteorological centric nomenclature!

PS: so is there a cable or adapter that will go from the Thunderbolt (not lightning) port on the Mac Mini to a standard USB3 external drive?

thanks!

w

Yes, and there are also small adapters like these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meatal-U...9119e357f:m:mFT1vIDANxLDpUhfCiRb5wQ:rk:1:pf:0
There's also 2 standard USB3 ports on the Mini

 

[Spectrum]

https://www.apple.com/uk/mac-mini/specs/https://www.apple.com/uk/mac-mini/specs/

 

[wfriedwald]

thanks to both of you - this is very helpful, yes!

PS: just bought this three pack from an American seller (on eBay):

<https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Pack-USB...b5518734e:m:mZZRN66P0zjF3RJxA5WVBsg:rk:6:pf:0>

 

[Dezlboy]

Hi all, I don't have any thing to add about this issue. BUT....I wanted to add a general comment that this forum is a great asset, and you all make it that way. Thanks!