I've been looking at replacing my MacBook with one of the new 13" Pros, I'm just wondering what the general opinions on USB3 is as far as is it worth waiting for. I'm not in any rush to get a new computer (it's just that my current one has some speed issues that can't be resolved by adding more RAM). I mean, I don't really forsee myself having any specific needs for USB3, but I'd like whatever computer I get to last me longer than the 2 years I've had my current MacBook for so the idea of waiting for USB3 is really more of a future-proofing kind of thing.
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USB3: Worth Waiting For?
- Thread starter butterfly0fdoom
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if u dont see ne specific needs then its probably no big deal. and i dont see USB3 really hurting the lifespan of a new computer as apple and all other companies cannot/will not expect people to buy new computers just to use their new devices. they will still b usb2 compatible.no big deal. i just bought a new MacBook Pro 15" and am happier than ever, no regrets.
the general consensus is usb 3 will be coming later this year. but that is no guarantee that it will be in the new macs right away. and then you have to deal with the new usb 3 hdd being really expensive ect ect. i dont think that it is worth waiting for.
Ports, especially something backwards-compatible like USB, shouldn't be a major factor in the lifetime of a computer.
What kind of "speed issues" do you have? Maybe try reinstalling the OS first, your computer sounds like it's up for most tasks, except gaming.
If you are not in a hurry to upgrade wait for next year, usb3 and sooner or later quad core macbook pros.
I don't expect usb3 to be a big deal right away, but something like 3 years from now it maybe will be. Just like with usb1 -> usb2 in the past.
If you are not in a hurry to upgrade wait for next year, usb3 and sooner or later quad core macbook pros.
I don't expect usb3 to be a big deal right away, but something like 3 years from now it maybe will be. Just like with usb1 -> usb2 in the past.
Are there any USB 3.0 peripherals?
Exactly. There's no sense in having the port a year before anything will be made for it.
Exactly. There's no sense in having the port a year before anything will be made for it.
Most people use the computer they purchased more than a year so of course it's a big thing with usb 3. It's stupid to say otherwise. Is it a deal breaker today? No, perhaps not for me or you but why dismiss it for everyone? USB 3 will be the port standard in the future and will be good to have. I need a computer now so I buy what is available now, this is just like every "should I wait to next apple update?" thread. The answer is always buy now if you need it else wait.
I'd be much more interested when Apple introduces some FW1600/3200 ports. Maybe that's what's keeping Apple from including eSATA.
Agreed, in fact apple was chided years ago with the iMac for embracing USB (on the bondi blue iMac) when there were so few devices available.
As I mentioned its foolish at this point to have your decision based on when USB3 will be available when I think there's other factors that need to be considered as well
I woulnd't wait for it. First, it's going to take at least a year after intro for perifs to come out to make it useful. Second, it's really an unknown if it will take off. I mean, hey FW400 was clearly superior to USB2 but it didn't go anywhere. Even when it became the standard DV connector there was no real demand by consumers to include it on mainstream PCs. Even Apple, FWs daddy, dropped it briefly on MBs... ones that came w/ iMovie.
So let USB3 play out. By the time you are ready for your next machine it will either be a new essential connector or an esoteric port.
So let USB3 play out. By the time you are ready for your next machine it will either be a new essential connector or an esoteric port.
Remember, not only does the tech have to be released, but it has to stop being a 'bag of hurt' before Apple will use it. 
Remember, not only does the tech have to be released, but it has to stop being a 'bag of hurt' before Apple will use it.
Ha, so true.
USB3 & Nehalem are the 2 things I'm waiting for before I replace my MBP. I want a noticible jump in performance
I jumped from a 2Ghz iMac to my 2.5Ghz MBP, and I really didn't notice a difference, if anything, my MBP is slower because of the 5400rpm HD...
I agree, the quad core chips will be a far more significant upgrade than usb3. That's what I am waiting for.....
I'm going to say nope.
No software is written to take advantage of that yet, and we can never know when Apple will do software updates.
Grand Central Dispatch
More cores, not faster clock speeds, drive performance increases in todays processors. Grand Central Dispatch takes full advantage by making all of Mac OS X multicore aware and optimizing it for allocating tasks across multiple cores and processors. Grand Central Dispatch also makes it much easier for developers to create programs that squeeze every last drop of power from multicore systems.
Grand Central Dispatch
More cores, not faster clock speeds, drive performance increases in todays processors. Grand Central Dispatch takes full advantage by making all of Mac OS X multicore aware and optimizing it for allocating tasks across multiple cores and processors. Grand Central Dispatch also makes it much easier for developers to create programs that squeeze every last drop of power from multicore systems.
So you think it magically takes a single-threaded app and makes it use however many threads your computer has? You really think so, don't you?
Sure, it does. And eSATA causes cancer.