Phill Schiller replied email regarding rMB connecting to Thunderbolt Display

[maflynn]

Have to wonder about the future of TB now...

I think that answer will be further cleared up, once we see what Apple does with TB on its other models, i.e., MacBook Pro, iMac, etc.

I agree that the future of TB is not looking bright, its been years and no other computer maker has embraced it, even tough it is technically an intel design/product.

 

[shenan1982]

Have to wonder about the future of TB now...

Likely the same fate as Firewire, unfortunately.

 

[newellj]

Likely the same fate as Firewire, unfortunately.

...which surprises me...I did not think that TB would be a repeat of FW.

 

[Queen6]

...which surprises me...I did not think that TB would be a repeat of FW.

I dont believe it will, simply rather not technically possible with Broadwell in such a small form factor as the MacBook. We will all see come Skylake

Q-6

 

[Meister]

Likely the same fate as Firewire, unfortunately.

So the Mac Pro then has 6 obsolete ports ...

 

[cfedu]

I think that answer will be further cleared up, once we see what Apple does with TB on its other models, i.e., MacBook Pro, iMac, etc.

I agree that the future of TB is not looking bright, its been years and no other computer maker has embraced it, even tough it is technically an intel design/product.

So the Mac Pro then has 6 obsolete ports ...

I would be surprised if Apple dropped Thunderbolt from their higher end Macs(MP,MBP,iMac). As long as intel continues to make and update the controllers, I think apple will use them. If Apple drops thunderbolt that would also be the end of the MP, I can't see this have the same functionality with only USB C ports.

 

[alphaod]

The next one will have support. The current MacBook doesn't have the necessary hardware to support Thunderbolt.

 

[negatv1]

It makes perfect sense to use what is likely to become an industry standard in USB-C, versus what has proven not to be (Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2).

That doesn't make it less painful, of course - this from an owner Cinema Display that is absolutely useless without a computer with Thunderbolt (sure would have been nice to have a secondary DP input right about now), and a 2013 Mac Pro that has plenty of Thunderbolt ports, but unable to drive a 5k monitor (should Apple have even release one) using a single Thunderbolt port.

(Am aware of 10.10.3 update that enables using the Dell display over two Thunderbolt ports, but seems unlikely for Apple to follow that path)

 

[theSeb]

There where some rumours that the MacBook was scheduled initially for a Skylake release, however it was advanced due to Apple not wanting to be perceived to be behind the competition on technology with Core M.

Image

For me there is a lot of logic in this, and it`s highly likely to be included when Sylake comes to market. The extreme portability of the MacBook makes it a perfect candidate for Thunderbolt, and Apple`s associated display.

Q-6

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The connectors a new design and will be compatible with the MacBook at 3mm

Q-6

I think this is spot on and I could not agree more

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Likely the same fate as Firewire, unfortunately.

Firewire lived along USB for MANY years. The same thing will happen with USB-C and TB. They are solutions to different problems. I know that people like to think that they are the same solutions, but they are not really. One product does not have to die, just because the other exists.

TB 3 is coming to Macs with Skylake. That may not be the case for the rMB, since they will want to drive the price down and get rid of the MBA.

 

[shenan1982]

...which surprises me...I did not think that TB would be a repeat of FW.

Any proprietary technology the 10% of the computing world uses is going to have a hard time catching on.

 

[newellj]

Any proprietary technology the 10% of the computing world uses is going to have a hard time catching on.

Yeah, but TB at least had Intel behind it. Heck, my Windows desktop supports TB natively and I have the card in it - but it's never been used, the only use it might have been to me is for storage peripherals and USB 3 is basically as fast and a lot cheaper in that role.

 

[Aphid Acer]

Skylake is promising WiDi, wireless display. So the need for thunderbolt/USB-C connectivity for future monitors supporting the standard might be a mute point, depending on max resolution for WiDi bandwidth.

 

[shenan1982]

Skylake is promising WiDi, wireless display. So the need for thunderbolt/USB-C connectivity for future monitors supporting the standard might be a mute point, depending on max resolution for WiDi bandwidth.

I believe the expression is "moot point" ;-)

 

[Aphid Acer]

I believe the expression is "moot point" ;-)

Haha, Weird Al would not approve
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

 

[illitrate23]

Have to wonder about the future of TB now...

Makes me wonder about the future of this new macbook now ...

Makes me wonder about the future of MacRumors and the very world itself!!!

but seriously, fwiw the last time i plugged my laptop into an external display was at least 10 years ago, it was a PowerBook G4. Since then i've had a MacBook, two MBAs and now the new rMB. I've plugged them into TVs for presentations via HDMI.

Not saying TB isn't important for some people. Just pointing out that just because it's a critical requirement for you, it isn't for everyone. Likewise, the rMB isn't for everyone. It's a gen 1 product. But I can get an adapter for a hdmi out so its great for me.

 

[shenan1982]

Haha, Weird Al would not approve
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

Very true.

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Makes me wonder about the future of MacRumors and the very world itself!!!

but seriously, fwiw the last time i plugged my laptop into an external display was at least 10 years ago, it was a PowerBook G4. Since then i've had a MacBook, two MBAs and now the new rMB. I've plugged them into TVs for presentations via HDMI.

Not saying TB isn't important for some people. Just pointing out that just because it's a critical requirement for you, it isn't for everyone. Likewise, the rMB isn't for everyone. It's a gen 1 product. But I can get an adapter for a hdmi out so its great for me.

It's definitely a sub-market product. Mac users are really the only ones who use it, and of the 10% computer demographic made up by mac, I'd bet less than 1/10th of mac users regularly use it... so that means less than 1% of computer users use it. No big company is going to put a whole lot of effort into products for 1%, least not in consumer electronics. Compare that to USB 3.0 and every new computer the last 2 years has had it! That's where product development is.

Lots of great technologies get passed up for the next new thing when they don't catch on. Thunderbolt is a great technology, it's just not got the backing of USB

 

[johngwheeler]

Haha, Weird Al would not approve
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

That was hilarious! Your obviusly knot in kneed of grammer corektion klasses...

 

[m0bus]

Wouldn't you just be able to use one of these if they provide a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter? http://www.amazon.ca/Startech-Com-D...ords=startech+displayport+to+mini+displayport

It's another adapter which means having two just to hook up the display but beats not being able to use the display at all I guess.

 

[brand]

Any proprietary technology the 10% of the computing world uses is going to have a hard time catching on.

Thunderbolt is not a proprietary technology.

 

[shenan1982]

Thunderbolt is not a proprietary technology.

It really is. No other manufacturer has tried to incorporate it as a standard like Apple has. While Apple doesn't own Thunderbolt, they're certainly the only ones to try and use it as a standard technology across the line.

 

[brand]

It really is. No other manufacturer has tried to incorporate it as a standard like Apple has. While Apple doesn't own Thunderbolt, they're certainly the only ones to try and use it as a standard technology across the line.

No it really is not. You might want to look up the definition of the word proprietary. Just because other manufactures choose not to adopt Thunderbolt does not make it proprietary.

 

[shenan1982]

No it really is not. You might want to look up the definition of the word proprietary. Just because other manufactures choose not to adopt Thunderbolt does not make it proprietary.

Sorry, I suppose proprietary was the wrong word. It's a standard on a Mac, just no other brand has chosen to adopt the technology as a standard. That makes it a pretty worthless technology for mass market appeal.

 

[Aphid Acer]

No it really is not. You might want to look up the definition of the word proprietary. Just because other manufactures choose not to adopt Thunderbolt does not make it proprietary.

Those examiners over at the USPTO seem to think it's proprietary.
https://www.google.com/patents/US7841776?dq=Optical+Signal+Magnetic+Connector&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VxUyVZzVEbbbsASMmoHoBg&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA

"Thunderbolt" is the marketed term for project Light Peak, whose embodiment is disclosed in US Patent #7841776. Essentially, a fiber optic cable that allows charging.

Not to mention that the term "Thunderbolt" is a proprietary trademark by Apple with the USPTO for computer-related communication.
https://trademarks.justia.com/853/14/thunderbolt-85314959.html

Despite what Intel initially said, then eventually conceded....
http://9to5mac.com/2011/05/20/intel-we-have-full-rights-to-the-thunderbolt-trademark-not-apple/
...I still see the trademark assigned to Apple. Maybe just licensed through tech transfer, Intel doesn't clarify.

 

[fumanchu]

I'm really looking forward to an external retina apple display that has a single USB-C cable. One connection to my new MacBook for power, data, video. Maybe that display could include a couple thunderbolt ports?

Not sure how likely such a thing is while we're still in USB-C vs TB limbo. Or what the res would be like to hit retina density at 27" without exceeding the bandwidth of USB-C.

 

[KPOM]

Apple "let it happen" because the MacBook probably isn't geared towards someone who wants to use TB devices. For that and portability, you buy an Air or an MBPc/r.

I also don't see this as the end of Thunderbolt, either. The MacBook is just aimed at a different market who doesn't care to use that, or might have another Mac that handles that. Portability and compactness is the main priority here, not so much endless connectivity.

Unfortunately, Thunderbolt seems to have taken a similar path as FireWire, even though Intel was behind it. I'm sure the first year of Apple exclusivity didn't help matters, but at the same time Intel could have done more to promote it. The high price of controllers probably kept it niche.