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Hewlett Packard Not Convinced of the Value of Thunderbolt

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PCWorld reports that while Hewlett-Packard (HP) had considered using Thunderbolt in its newest desktop PCs, for now it's sticking with USB 3.0.

“We did look at [Thunderbolt]. We’re still looking into it. Haven't found a value proposition yet,” said Xavier Lauwaert, worldwide marketing manager for desktops at HP.

According to Lauwaert, everone seems to be content with USB 3.0 so they don't see the value of including Thunderbolt in their desktop machines.

thunderbolt
Thunderbolt is the high speed interconnect system that was introduced by Intel in February. Apple was the first customer to adopt the new connector with the launch of its early 2011 MacBook Pros. Apple has since released new iMacs also supporting Thunderbolt. Due to the newness of the connector, there is presently little 3rd party support, though Intel is said to be opening up Thunderbolt development this quarter.

HP is notable for being the largest U.S. computer manufacturer accounting for 26% of the market in the 1st quarter 2011.

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Top Rated Comments

G
gg47
197 months ago
I have to be with HP on this one. I never saw the value preposition of motor vehicles, I and all my blacksmith friends were very happy with a horse.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Piggie Avatar
Piggie
197 months ago
Does this feel a little like Firewire / USB2 again?

I have buckets of things that are USB.USB2, the defacto standard, and only 1 thing that was ever firewire, a 8mm video camera.

Don't get me wrong, the faster and higher spec the better, but it's all pointless unless it gets fitted into everything and becomes a standard.

Kinda like having a 12" Diameter penis, Very impressive & you can show it off to people, but useless as it won't fit into anything.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
E
Edmoil12
197 months ago
Remember when mini displayport was supposed to be the next big thing?

Once again apple will trot out how they are setting an 'industry standard' when hardly anyone else uses it. Here we go again...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
8CoreWhore Avatar
8CoreWhore
197 months ago
Keep in mind - Apple has not eliminated USB while implementing Thunderbolt.

It's not Thunderbolt Vs. USB - it's Thunderbolt Vs. USB 3.0

I rather have TB plus USB 2 then Just USB 3.

TB is even a lot faster and more flexible then Express Card.

TB port is roughly half the size of USB port, making it more suitable for portable devices.

TB (20Gbps) is way better than USB 3 (5Gbps) because it's way faster, and can daisy chain. It's a straight tap into PCI-E.

And, Apple may... may... go with TB plus USB 3 in the future, but there may be tech reasons not to (at least in mobiles).

===============================================================
(From Apple)

One small port. One giant leap in possibilities.
Both MacBook Pro and iMac now give you access to a world of high-speed peripherals and high-resolution displays with one compact port.

That’s because Thunderbolt is based on two fundamental technologies: PCI Express and DisplayPort.

PCI Express is the technology that links all the high-performance components in a Mac. And it’s built into Thunderbolt. Which means you can connect external devices like RAID arrays and video capture solutions directly to MacBook Pro or iMac — and get PCI Express performance. That’s a first for any computer.

Thunderbolt also provides 10 watts of power to peripherals, so you can tackle workstation-class projects on the go with MacBook Pro or from your home office with iMac.

With PCI Express technology, you can use existing USB and FireWire peripherals — even connect to Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel networks — using simple adapters.

And because Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, the video standard for high-resolution displays, any Mini DisplayPort display plugs right into the Thunderbolt port. To connect a DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA display, just use an existing adapter.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
SilianRail
197 months ago
Intel wants to gouge OEMs on licensing fees and Apple wants to sell us $99 cables. This is what happens when you don't go with a consortium or open standard.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
Michael Scrip
197 months ago
Can't Thunderbolt run pretty much any protocol?

I thought that's what LightPeak was supposed to be... one connection that could do anything.

Will there be any TB-USB3 converters or dongles?

It would be a shame if USB3 finally takes off... and Apple sticks with ThunderBolt.

Firewire redux...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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