Today Apple updated the MacBook Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, a new FaceTime HD camera and high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology. The Thunderbolt I/O technology (previously known as LightPeak) is a revolutionary I/O technology that supports high-resolution displays and high-performance data devices through a single, compact port. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays.
We first learned of this technology from an Engadget article. According to this article and the Apple press release, we can learn that Apple is going to use this technology in all of its product line, including the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It will be interesting to see if Apple will introduce this technology in the iPad 2 that is rumored to be announced next week.
More details on the new MacBook Pro and the Thunderbolt I/O technology can be found in the Apple press release.
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After all of the frenzy stirred up by the gadget blogs speculating on what the MBP would have, I’m disappointed that it’s the same weight/form factor as the previous one. I was dreaming of a 15″ with SSD and no built in optical drive. I hadn’t read about Apple’s intention to integrate Thunderbolt into iOS devices; if they drop the dock connector, there will be a rebellion of all of the people with 3rd party devices that use docks.
Apple can use the Thunderbolt technology to reduce the size of the MacBook Pro, and they probably will do it with the MacBook Air. As for the iOS devices, I think the dock connector will stay, but using this technology you will be able to introduce interesting accessories with faster connection to the device. Nevertheless, it will be interested to see what Apple will do in the end.
What a letdown.
Thunderbolt is interesting, and a faster CPU is always nice, but without a resolution bump up, SSD for OS/apps (32GB would suffice if there was also a HDD for data), instant resume, and lower weight, I’ll pass. Would rather get a MBA, despite its lowly Core2Duo.