Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Light Peak Coming in Early 2011 With Apple at Forefront?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple and Intel are not skipping USB 3.0
Light Peak is only the technology to physically connect and transmit, it still needs underlying protocol(s) to handle the trasmission. So expect Light Peak to debut with USB 3.0 support (along with hdmi, firewire, and anything else you can throw in there).
Light Peak is only the technology to physically connect and transmit, it still needs underlying protocol(s) to handle the trasmission. So expect Light Peak to debut with USB 3.0 support (along with hdmi, firewire, and anything else you can throw in there).
So is light peak it's own interface? Or could light peak be the transfer style but have sata and usb 3 connectors thrown on the end?
I have read Intel's site about what it is and how it works but nothing about the way we'll connect to it. Will I need a light peak specific ssd?
I have read Intel's site about what it is and how it works but nothing about the way we'll connect to it. Will I need a light peak specific ssd?
The most recent demo I know of showed of a LP/USB3 combo cable - basically integrating the LightPeak part in the plastic rectangle that's on one side of a USB A end cable thats within the main metal casing of the USB cable end.
So They could offer USB compatibility - and backwards compatibility.
They demoed LP on a board a while back, but the more recent demo was with this combo port on a laptop. If they can engineer it, it makes sense - as you save space, and retain the USB drives.
Think of it like the optical audio they have within the standard 35mm audio out jack for the MacBooks.
A dedicated Light Peak connection would be fine for the Mac Pro, 17 inch MBP perhaps, but LP enabled USB ports would be useful.
Apple would take a material hit integrating Light Peak in, but they could get a user base of Light Peak in the Millions, fast - and the usefulness would fairly quickly spread out to other Apple products, and 3rd parties who could interact with Light Peak (LP external drives, LP SSD, Monitors etc). It'd be a new update for many of their products.
Could they put it into iPods? It'd be costly. But blimey would that sync be a bit faster...
I'm sure I have the old online magazine articles for the 2 recent demos somewhere, i'll check if needed. It's pretty strange that there weren't more pictures taken by the journalists there - there's about 1-2 pictures of the Light Peak demo stand with lots of copycat articles on the events.
Apple could bring it to the Mac Pro, and the high end screens, aim it for professionals, and then maybe the MBP. With the timings, they could do this with Q1 2011 Mac Pros and MBPs if they were able and willing. Though i'm sure some will hold out on Sand Bridge for Ivy Bridge!