I’d prefer a $25 cable that I never have to replace to a $2 cable I have to replace 15 times.
I've never replaced a USB A > B cable, though the USB Micro ones are crap, they're too fragile. The USB Mini are ok it seems. Apple Lightning cables however, I replace every few months... The UV in sunlight seemingly attacks them, and the strain reliefs are woefully inadequate.
I have a drawer dedicated to Apple adapters, I have more Apple adapters than I any other by far.
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt. I'm not saying this to be hyperbolic but with DP and USB 3.1 over a universal connector Apple gets what they wanted with Thunderbolt (single multi-protocol cable that supplies power) What they don't get is Intel lockin. This should be as applicable to ARM based platforms as it is Intel.
Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
Indeed. It's hard to see why Apple would want to put a Thunderbolt port on a MBA instead of this.
Maybe Thunderbolt 2 will be included on Mac Pros and *maybe* MBPs, since it could still provide some very high end niche functionality that people who buy those computers would appreciate. But it does sound like thunderbolt as a mainstream technology is all but dead.
Indeed. It's hard to see why Apple would want to put a Thunderbolt port on a MBA instead of this.
Maybe Thunderbolt 2 will be included on Mac Pros and *maybe* MBPs, since it could still provide some very high end niche functionality that people who buy those computers would appreciate. But it does sound like thunderbolt as a mainstream technology is all but dead.
If this guy's right, the next gen MBA will be using this new connector;
It's a little early to argue over displayport 1.3. The specification itself was released a week ago. Prior to that it wasn't finalized. It may still be a while before you see it in shipping Macs, because it depends on when they acquire new board designs. With the Mac Pro I wouldn't expect any enormous changes with Broadwell, because it uses the same chipset. It could easily be 2016 before you see thunderbolt 3.0 in a Mac Pro. The macbook pros could see it a little earlier.
Regarding the MagSafe rumor: I've pretty much decided they are trying to move all of their portables to the new induction charger like the Apple Watch has.
That would be a good idea - their magsafe power supplies don't get very good reviews:
Of course people would rarely leave a positive review for a power supply so that'll just reflect the bad ones but still over 900 1/5 ratings.
Not having exposed contacts might help but they'll have to be efficient otherwise they'll heat up more as they have to do more work to transfer the same charge. It's ok on a device that is under 1W but the laptops go up to around 85W. I could see a fanless Air getting inductive charging though as that can be as low as 4.5W.
I don't think USB C will replace TB for the most part. The displays still use data connections to run ethernet, multiple USB ports and others as well as daisy chain displays. PCIe is more functional than a single data protocol. It diminishes the need to use TB though. Intel wanted to use USB ports to begin with but they were too stubborn to let them do it and they want the same benefits anyway. They don't want it tied to Intel with licensing but still, they've ended up doing pretty much the same thing Intel did years ago and their achievement is not making it tied to Intel and single protocol instead of PCIe.
Care to elaborate then, since it's been stated by more than one person now that Thunderbolt isn't currently doing anything that the article claims USB will be doing in its next incarnation? What is your claim?
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt. I'm not saying this to be hyperbolic but with DP and USB 3.1 over a universal connector Apple gets what they wanted with Thunderbolt (single multi-protocol cable that supplies power) What they don't get is Intel lockin. This should be as applicable to ARM based platforms as it is Intel.
Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
On the other hand, everything from Mac Pro down to Mini has at least one Thunderbolt port.
Regarding the MagSafe rumor: I've pretty much decided they are trying to move all of their portables to the new induction charger like the Apple Watch has.
you mean by introducing a brand new non-induction charging system known as Lightning?
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt…Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
Don't be too sure. Look how long Apple stuck with Firewire; and SCSI before that. But honestly, I think going with USB would be the smarter thing to do.
If you mean the addition of Displayport support sure. But Thunderbolt currently does not support Displayport 1.3 nor 5k. So it's a step up from current Thunderbolt (of course Thunderbolt will be updated as well)
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt. I'm not saying this to be hyperbolic but with DP and USB 3.1 over a universal connector Apple gets what they wanted with Thunderbolt (single multi-protocol cable that supplies power) What they don't get is Intel lockin. This should be as applicable to ARM based platforms as it is Intel.
Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
Thunderbolt seems one of those things that is the drive, but it took this many years for USB to "catch up" then thinderbolt 3 will diffenatalty help.
No it doesn't. Thunderbolt 2 supports Displayport 1.2 and up to 4k. Not Displayport 1.3 and 5k, that's probably something that will be added in Thunderbolt 3 in the future.
Not having exposed contacts might help but they'll have to be efficient otherwise they'll heat up more as they have to do more work to transfer the same charge. It's ok on a device that is under 1W but the laptops go up to around 85W. I could see a fanless Air getting inductive charging though as that can be as low as 4.5W.
Inductive charging is pretty useless for anything with a battery the size of the Air, since if it was charging at a rate of 4.5w, the 54Wh battery would take 12 hours to charge, and longer if you were using the device. Plus you have to comply with EMI regulations, you can't go pumping several watts of radio waves into the air without a licence. For reference, most WiFi routers output something between 0.02-0.1w.
Don't be too sure. Look how long Apple stuck with Firewire; and SCSI before that. But honestly, I think going with USB would be the smarter thing to do.
This. It took Apple ages to adopt USB 3 too. They don't really seem to be able to decide if they're going after the consumer or professional market. More toward prosumer, I guess.
I’d prefer a $25 cable that I never have to replace to a $2 cable I have to replace 15 times.
...they're too fragile. The USB Mini are ok it seems. Apple Lightning cables however, I replace every few months... The UV in sunlight seemingly attacks them, and the strain reliefs are woefully inadequate...
I have a drawer dedicated to Apple adapters, I have more Apple adapters than I any other by far.
I am not saying you have not had this experience but I don't think it is typical.
Comments
I've never replaced a USB A > B cable, though the USB Micro ones are crap, they're too fragile. The USB Mini are ok it seems. Apple Lightning cables however, I replace every few months... The UV in sunlight seemingly attacks them, and the strain reliefs are woefully inadequate.
I have a drawer dedicated to Apple adapters, I have more Apple adapters than I any other by far.
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt. I'm not saying this to be hyperbolic but with DP and USB 3.1 over a universal connector Apple gets what they wanted with Thunderbolt (single multi-protocol cable that supplies power) What they don't get is Intel lockin. This should be as applicable to ARM based platforms as it is Intel.
Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
Indeed. It's hard to see why Apple would want to put a Thunderbolt port on a MBA instead of this.
Maybe Thunderbolt 2 will be included on Mac Pros and *maybe* MBPs, since it could still provide some very high end niche functionality that people who buy those computers would appreciate. But it does sound like thunderbolt as a mainstream technology is all but dead.
Indeed. It's hard to see why Apple would want to put a Thunderbolt port on a MBA instead of this.
Maybe Thunderbolt 2 will be included on Mac Pros and *maybe* MBPs, since it could still provide some very high end niche functionality that people who buy those computers would appreciate. But it does sound like thunderbolt as a mainstream technology is all but dead.
If this guy's right, the next gen MBA will be using this new connector;
http://jackgmarch.com/2014/09/22/exclusive-12-macbook-air-design-details/
I’d prefer a $25 cable that I never have to replace to a $2 cable I have to replace 15 times.
Where's the evidence that Thunderbolt cables are 15 times as reliable as USB cables?
I've never had a USB cable fail on me. Excepting a few Apple iPod cables, and one Lightning cable that is, but I'll blame the manufacturer for that.
Thunderbolt 3 will be doing all this.
So will USB. What's your point then? Where did the "4 years" claim vanish to?
So USB is just doing exactly what Thunderbolt has already done for four years.
Great going, morons.
Thunderbolt 3 will be doing all this.
That must be a pretty magical cable if it is simultaneously doing all those things four years ago AND will doing them in the future.
Which one is it? You are claiming opposite things to be true.
I know, I know.... I'll now shut up and go away....
Nowhere.
Thunderbolt 3 will be doing all this.
It's a little early to argue over displayport 1.3. The specification itself was released a week ago. Prior to that it wasn't finalized. It may still be a while before you see it in shipping Macs, because it depends on when they acquire new board designs. With the Mac Pro I wouldn't expect any enormous changes with Broadwell, because it uses the same chipset. It could easily be 2016 before you see thunderbolt 3.0 in a Mac Pro. The macbook pros could see it a little earlier.
Not if Apple wants to sell a retina Cinema Display next year like some are saying.
That would be a good idea - their magsafe power supplies don't get very good reviews:
http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MD506LL/A/apple-85w-magsafe-2-power-adapter-for-macbook-pro-with-retina-display?fnode=5a&page=0&rf=1
http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MC556LL/B/apple-85w-magsafe-power-adapter-for-15-and-17-inch-macbook-pro?page=0&rf=1
Of course people would rarely leave a positive review for a power supply so that'll just reflect the bad ones but still over 900 1/5 ratings.
Not having exposed contacts might help but they'll have to be efficient otherwise they'll heat up more as they have to do more work to transfer the same charge. It's ok on a device that is under 1W but the laptops go up to around 85W. I could see a fanless Air getting inductive charging though as that can be as low as 4.5W.
I don't think USB C will replace TB for the most part. The displays still use data connections to run ethernet, multiple USB ports and others as well as daisy chain displays. PCIe is more functional than a single data protocol. It diminishes the need to use TB though. Intel wanted to use USB ports to begin with but they were too stubborn to let them do it and they want the same benefits anyway. They don't want it tied to Intel with licensing but still, they've ended up doing pretty much the same thing Intel did years ago and their achievement is not making it tied to Intel and single protocol instead of PCIe.
Nowhere.
Care to elaborate then, since it's been stated by more than one person now that Thunderbolt isn't currently doing anything that the article claims USB will be doing in its next incarnation? What is your claim?
Why are VESA morons?
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt. I'm not saying this to be hyperbolic but with DP and USB 3.1 over a universal connector Apple gets what they wanted with Thunderbolt (single multi-protocol cable that supplies power) What they don't get is Intel lockin. This should be as applicable to ARM based platforms as it is Intel.
Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
On the other hand, everything from Mac Pro down to Mini has at least one Thunderbolt port.
Not if Apple wants to sell a retina Cinema Display next year like some are saying.
Pick a year, any year, and someone will be saying that there is a new Cinema Display coming out next year.
Regarding the MagSafe rumor: I've pretty much decided they are trying to move all of their portables to the new induction charger like the Apple Watch has.
you mean by introducing a brand new non-induction charging system known as Lightning?
This is likely the Death Knell for Thunderbolt…Note that Apple hasn't really promoted Thunderbolt lately other than the Mac Pro and there's no rumor of Thunderbolt 2 displays.
Don't be too sure. Look how long Apple stuck with Firewire; and SCSI before that. But honestly, I think going with USB would be the smarter thing to do.
Thunderbolt seems one of those things that is the drive, but it took this many years for USB to "catch up" then thinderbolt 3 will diffenatalty help.
No it doesn't. Thunderbolt 2 supports Displayport 1.2 and up to 4k. Not Displayport 1.3 and 5k, that's probably something that will be added in Thunderbolt 3 in the future.
Inductive charging is pretty useless for anything with a battery the size of the Air, since if it was charging at a rate of 4.5w, the 54Wh battery would take 12 hours to charge, and longer if you were using the device. Plus you have to comply with EMI regulations, you can't go pumping several watts of radio waves into the air without a licence. For reference, most WiFi routers output something between 0.02-0.1w.
This. It took Apple ages to adopt USB 3 too. They don't really seem to be able to decide if they're going after the consumer or professional market. More toward prosumer, I guess.
I’d prefer a $25 cable that I never have to replace to a $2 cable I have to replace 15 times.
...they're too fragile. The USB Mini are ok it seems. Apple Lightning cables however, I replace every few months... The UV in sunlight seemingly attacks them, and the strain reliefs are woefully inadequate...
I have a drawer dedicated to Apple adapters, I have more Apple adapters than I any other by far.
I am not saying you have not had this experience but I don't think it is typical.