A reminder of the Apple patent application article "Apple exploring all-in-one MagSafe power and data connector".
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Example of an External Dock and GPU Over Thunderbolt Technology
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Or you could potentially create a cluster with mac nodes with a central Xsan disk array.
I was thinking the same thing. Imagin a 27" cinema display with thunderbolt AND an AMD 6950 built in for gaming/photo work. You use the HD3000 on the go, and plug in your SB MBA at home to game.
They should revisit the Cinema Displays to act like this hub, and have two thunderbolt ports on it so it could have two computers hooked up to it the desktop one becoming slave processor to the laptop if it's connected.
If Apple does intend on putting Thunderbolt on all future Macs, what kind of peripherals do they envision?
Most of Apple's Mac sales are laptops, yet the iMac and Cinema Display show that Apple believes that a large screen can provide a much better computing experience. Perhaps Thunderbolt is seen as a way to bridge between these computing experiences.
Integrating components such as a faster graphics card, large rotational drive, and even (perhaps) an optical drive into a revised Cinema Display might be interesting, although it seems slightly awkward. This kind of product would make sense as a home station for your Mac laptop, but it could be difficult to explain to potential customers. Also the typical lifespan of a display is much greater than video cards or hard drives.
An external dock seems even more uncharacteristic for Apple. I think Apple's goal with Thunderbolt is consolidation, not adding another box on your desk.
Most of Apple's Mac sales are laptops, yet the iMac and Cinema Display show that Apple believes that a large screen can provide a much better computing experience. Perhaps Thunderbolt is seen as a way to bridge between these computing experiences.
Integrating components such as a faster graphics card, large rotational drive, and even (perhaps) an optical drive into a revised Cinema Display might be interesting, although it seems slightly awkward. This kind of product would make sense as a home station for your Mac laptop, but it could be difficult to explain to potential customers. Also the typical lifespan of a display is much greater than video cards or hard drives.
An external dock seems even more uncharacteristic for Apple. I think Apple's goal with Thunderbolt is consolidation, not adding another box on your desk.
Well, presumably, 3rd parties will be able to make Thunderbolt docks, so you don't have to wait for Apple.
arn
Many Wintel laptops have docking stations.
The "news" is using TBolt for the docking station - which brings up the possibility that Apple may finally produce a docking solution for the Apple laptops.
"connects to the laptop via an optical cable"
This is what makes this whole thing interesting to me. Does this use the same type of Thunderbolt implementation as the current MacBook Pros and iMacs but swaps out copper cables for optical or is it a different and newer Thunderbolt with faster speeds that's all optical?
This is what makes this whole thing interesting to me. Does this use the same type of Thunderbolt implementation as the current MacBook Pros and iMacs but swaps out copper cables for optical or is it a different and newer Thunderbolt with faster speeds that's all optical?
And I would expect a future Apple Portable to use the fused mag-safe optical connection allowing for quick single cable connect/release to a docking station.
Perhaps even a display with integrated sound, USB, FireWire and others ...
Perhaps even a display with integrated sound, USB, FireWire and others ...
I have a great idea.
We have the problem of modern graphics cards getting hot in slim tight chassis of some modern machines (Laptops, Macbooks, iMacs)
So let's design an external graphics card.
Excellent idea.
Oh, and let's put it in a super slim case that will get really hot! DOH !!!!
We have the problem of modern graphics cards getting hot in slim tight chassis of some modern machines (Laptops, Macbooks, iMacs)
So let's design an external graphics card.
Excellent idea.
Oh, and let's put it in a super slim case that will get really hot! DOH !!!!
Well, it's not Light Peak. It's based on Lightpeak. Sony even calls it a "proprietary port". Apple does have "industry standard" USB 2.0.
arn
Kind of makes you wonder how much faster will the video card be via Thunderbolt vs AMD/ATI XGP port, which is suppose to do similar things.
If that bezel is thin, while still having the same screen quality as the first gen i Core Z, at a fair price, I am pretty sure this will be my next computer, despite the fact I want to run OSX.
If that bezel is thin, while still having the same screen quality as the first gen i Core Z, at a fair price, I am pretty sure this will be my next computer, despite the fact I want to run OSX.
I love the possibility of a 1920x1080 screen resolution in this new ultraportable 13" laptop from Sony. Suddenly the potential of the new sb MacBook Air is a lot less appealing to me. 
The new Sony will undoubtedly cost a fortune, even more than the MBA, but if it could replace my insanely heavy 17" MBP I'd pay the premium.
The new Sony will undoubtedly cost a fortune, even more than the MBA, but if it could replace my insanely heavy 17" MBP I'd pay the premium.
This is quite interesting indeed!
That could mean that Thunderbolt data throughput (2x10Gbit/s) could be enough to use a Desktop Card, let's say a Radeon HD68XX, at decent framerate on a single external monitor at FullHD resolution...
Put a card like that in a box with decent cooling and power supply and a Thunderbolt equipped laptop could become an interesting gaming machine.....
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