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Intel Shows Off Prototype 128GB Thunderbolt Thumb Drive
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What's pointless about big, fast, portable storage? Obviously it has a limited audience, but that's not the same as pointless.
I would love to have a thunderbolt thumbdrive... even 32GB would be cool. I hope it become reality.
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FireWire is heavily used and essential to its market: PRO. Which is the same as Thunderbolt. Not everyone needs it, but some users can't live without it.
Nobody knows what speed this specific SSD is, but the fastest SSDs can read over 500 megs per second, faster than FW800 or USB3. So if they built it with a fast enough SSD inside, yes.
More of the same question?
Is the SSD controller SATA or a PCIe direct like IO fusion?
Looks kinda worn out
intel has been testing the thumb drive for quite some time, this thumb drive in the picture looks worn out, the paint (finish) seems to be worn out. Have to wait and see if thunderbolt thumb drive is a viable option in the long run.
intel has been testing the thumb drive for quite some time, this thumb drive in the picture looks worn out, the paint (finish) seems to be worn out. Have to wait and see if thunderbolt thumb drive is a viable option in the long run.
Its pointless because you could buy a universally usable USB drive for a fraction the price, or , get a proper external Thunderbolt SSD if you want performance, This seems to be the device that sits in the middle, not as good as an SSD, and not as universally usable across multiple systems as a USB key.
Also, doesn't a thunderbolt display have to be the LAST in the chain for it to work ? so this key cant be used if you only have one Tbolt port and an External display because it has no pass through
Now if only apple and other laptop makers could use this idea to make expandable ssd drives inside the chassis. Maybe this tech could be small enough for all these stupidly thin "ultrabooks"? God I hate that label it's crap.
Also how is it that Intel didn't have these at launch of the port? It seems like madness that it's been so long without any particulary good devices. USB 3.0 will become USB 4.0 eventually (it'll be an ugly pin) but it'll probably mean thunderbolt is never adopted the way it should be for everything.
Also how is it that Intel didn't have these at launch of the port? It seems like madness that it's been so long without any particulary good devices. USB 3.0 will become USB 4.0 eventually (it'll be an ugly pin) but it'll probably mean thunderbolt is never adopted the way it should be for everything.
True for most people, but if you're regularly shuttling 100GB files around (e.g. for video work) you could use these to store projects, and work directly from the 'key' with no performance loss (imagine video) rather than continually copying to/from your main drive. Or, as others have suggested, you could effectively carry your whole computer around on a keyring.
OK, you could still use a small TB drive instead - but, as with the Apple Firewire and Ethernet adapters they can shave a bit off the cost by having the plug integrated or on a very short cable,
Also, doesn't a thunderbolt display have to be the LAST in the chain for it to work ? so this key cant be used if you only have one Tbolt port and an External display because it has no pass through[/QUOTE]
I would love to have one of these. My wife and I each have a macbook (I have an Air, she has a Pro). We rarely use them at the same time. I could easily load my Air onto one of these and when I want to use my "air", I could just plug it into her Macbook Pro and have my setup at my finger tips. We could consolidate our two macbooks into one. Her Macbook Pro is a 2011 so we don't have USB 3.0 on it so this would be perfect for that purpose. Ah well, Instead I will just be buying a 2013 Macbook Air for myself whenever they are released.
Most likely this is SanDisk iSSD based.
Thunderbolt is just fancy and expensive external PCIe. SATA is also moving to PCIe with SATA Express (we'll see the standard shipping later this year) and the consumer spec will provide speeds of up to 16Gbps.
Updating eSATA as well will most likely require a hefty controller, strict spec and likely a new connector, meaning a far higher price than USB and yet anothere interface. SATA Express is for internal use afaik.
No. A Thunderbolt display can be at any point in the chain (so long as it has a pass-thru port). For proof of this, just look at Apple's current display.
A DisplayPort or mini DisplayPort display has to be the last in the chain. (Because it doesn't have a Thunderbolt pass-thru.)
Prototype of amazing new tech shown off.
Macrumours Forum whines and complains.
Nothing new here.
Macrumours Forum whines and complains.
Nothing new here.
Wouldn't that be the sale price? I mean, the price after they figure they have millions of them lying around and have to move them somehow...
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That is sexy. I haven't seen it out there yet. I've got the Lexar green ones with USB 3. Nice... Little support for full speed.
I've had trouble getting those to fit in some USB ports, but they are pretty.
That Intel prototype though - ... ugly.
How much time would this save one as compared to a USB 3 stick? I mean sure if the cash is no big deal, go for it, but it seems like you can transfer stuff in the background while you're doing other tasks.