USB 3.0 instead of T-bolt in new MBA refresh

[andrewlgm]

umm.

if you're going to be adding USB at all, and we all know USB must be present in a computer, why not add the fastest and latest kind? that being USB3? Maybe I'm asking too much...

But I'm seriously not willing to buy macbooks that really change nothing over time. And while I understand this is not an accurate comment. It sure feels like it.

I'm not buying a new macbook without USB 3 and blu-ray support. In other words, either I wait forever to replace my 09 model, or jump ship. I'm seriously considering the latter...

 

[Dwalls90]

No.

Plus, why would they make a point of marketing Tbolt like nuts and putting it on EVERY other Mac and then putting USB3 into one model? Furthermore, even Intel seems to not care for USB3 anymore ...

 

[islanders]

well, I received my MBP 15 with the anit-glare and don't like the screen.

Now I'm back to the MBA but how the heck am I going to back up to a HD with FW 2.0?

I suppose I'll have to look into a wireless backup.

 

[halledise]

Now I'm back to the MBA but how the heck am I going to back up to a HD with FW 2.0?

with something like this ???

http://goo.gl/Mlka5

 

[islanders]

with something like this ???

http://goo.gl/Mlka5

In that case I would just use USB 2.0. or get another computer that has some decent ports.

 

[halledise]

In that case I would just use USB 2.0. or get another computer that has some decent ports.

well you did ask how would you be able to back up to a FW external HDD

if you don't want an Air then don't get one.

merely trying to find solutions for your query

 

[islanders]

well you did ask how would you be able to back up to a FW external HDD

if you don't want an Air then don't get one.

merely trying to find solutions for your query

Actually I didn't specify a FW HDD. I guess I should have been more specific that the bandwidth or transfer rate is limited on USB 2.0 for backing up large files.

Have you used the firewire to USB adapter? You didn't mention if it was reliable from your experience? thanks mate

 

[Scottsdale]

USB 3.0 would be infinitely more useful until Apple releases an ACD with a built in discrete GPU for the lower end Macs with useless Intel HD IGP graphics. If that happens, ThunderBolt will be an upgraded worth having on every Mac. ThunderBolt would be able to do just that, and that was exactly my thought as to why Apple would go Intel HD 3000 on the 13" MBP and introduce Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt could be amazing if Apple takes advantage of it. In addition, Thunderbolt will work as USB 3.0, FireWire, and etc with adapters. We just need to wait for those.

The really sad part is Intel definitely held off on the USB 3.0 spec in its chipsets so it could push Thunderbolt first.... it's sad because we should all have USB 3.0 AND Thunderbolt. IVY BRIDGE MBA FTW!!!

 

[Cheffy Dave]

The MBA's flash storage capacity will be depending on economic viability and availability. Look at OWC for MBA flash storage upgrades, they offer up to 480GB for 1400 USD (link).
USB 3 would be nice, but why would Apple jump on an unsupported interface (Intel's chips do not have USB 3.0 support yet), especially after introducing its own interface, which is twice as fast and is NOT CPU dependent?

Agreed, there will Be no USB 3.0, yet,if ever, is committed to LB

 

[CaoCao]

if you're going to be adding USB at all, and we all know USB must be present in a computer, why not add the fastest and latest kind? that being USB3? Maybe I'm asking too much...

But I'm seriously not willing to buy macbooks that really change nothing over time. And while I understand this is not an accurate comment. It sure feels like it.

I'm not buying a new macbook without USB 3 and blu-ray support. In other words, either I wait forever to replace my 09 model, or jump ship. I'm seriously considering the latter...

Intel's CPUs come with USB2 built in, you need another chip for USB3 so they have to decide whether to pick Thunderbolt or USB3, Thunderbolt is Apple's baby so it wins (plus the MBA is a perfect case for TB)

 

[42streetsdown]

it's not a this or that situation. Apple will add USB 3.0 in time (Probably with the release of Ivy Bridge), but will certainly add ThunderBolt right now. USB 3 ports are gonna be used with mostly UB 2 hardware anyway(mice, keyboards and such)

 

[CaoCao]

it's not a this or that situation. Apple will add USB 3.0 in time (Probably with the release of Ivy Bridge), but will certainly add ThunderBolt right now. USB 3 ports are gonna be used with mostly UB 2 hardware anyway(mice, keyboards and such)

Since USB3 comes with Ivy Bridge they will add it

 

[weckart]

with something like this ???

http://goo.gl/Mlka5

Have you used the firewire to USB adapter? You didn't mention if it was reliable from your experience? thanks mate

I think halledise was teasing you. Those adapters are only for specific cables that can perform dual service as usb OR fw leads. You cannot mix the two as the usb and fw protocols are completely different and cannot talk to each other without some sort of converter circuit in between.

You often see these adapters with ethernet cables

 

[sjinsjca]

Why don't you get an Optinay and store the VMs on the 2nd HDD?

For those unfamiliar, Optibay is a gizmo that lets you remove a portable Mac's DVD drive and replace it with a second hard disk.

To answer your question: I have several external drives. One wouldn't be enough for my work.


Incidentally: One thing people and pundits keep missing about Thunderbolt is that it's not just a fast interface, it's a whole external bus, a literal extension of the machine's own PCI Express bus. External GPUs, CPUs, storage, displays... and beyond... it opens the machine in a unique way. This isn't just about peripherals, it's about a vision that extends the machine in entirely new ways that a merely faster peripheral interface like USB cannot.


(Side comment: I sure wish Apple would support virtualization of OS X for desktop use.)

 

[537635]

Any chance of a TB->USB 3.0 adapter you think?

Exactly. That would solve many problems. Apple, as aggressive as they are, could even do the same as with the VGA adapter (which is still, very usefull, especially with projectors) - ditch it completely and sell the adapter.

I wouldn't mind seeing an Air with 2 (possibly 3) TB ports (and no other!) and the possibility to buy a TB -> 4x USB 3.0 (or 2.0) adapter/hub. That would put a final nail in the USB coffin and force the industry to shift to TB interface.

 

[OllyW]

I wouldn't mind seeing an Air with 2 (possibly 3) TB ports (and no other!) and the possibility to buy a TB -> 4x USB 3.0 (or 2.0) adapter/hub. That would put a final nail in the USB coffin and force the industry to shift to TB interface.

That hub would be a great solution for a light portable like the Air but how would it force the industry to shift to Thunderbolt?

 

[537635]

That hub would be a great solution for a light portable like the Air but how would it force the industry to shift to Thunderbolt?

If memory serves me correct, Apple is one of the companies, which are the fastest to ditch obsolete technology (albeit there is still a significant userbase tied to it).

DisplayPort was a bold move. In a world, where there was exactly one (1) external display with this interface, they introduced laptops with no other means of connecting to a monitor, projector or HDTV. Today we practically don't see a monitor, which doesn't have a DP/mDP connector.

They could do the same with USB over time. With Air as a first model without it, followed by Pro and Macbook models later.

 

[theSeb]

USB 3.0 is coming in the next next revision of the MBA - all the more reason to wait for Ivy Bridge.

If you take that approach, then you'll always be waiting.

 

[OllyW]

If memory serves me correct, Apple is one of the companies, which are the fastest to ditch obsolete technology (albeit there is still a significant userbase tied to it).

DisplayPort was a bold move. In a world, where there was exactly one (1) external display with this interface, they introduced laptops with no other means of connecting to a monitor, projector or HDTV. Today we practically don't see a monitor, which doesn't have a DP/mDP connector.

They could do the same with USB over time. With Air as a first model without it, followed by Pro and Macbook models later.

Yes, I'm with you on Apple being one of the fastest companies to ditch older technologies.

I just can't fathom how making a TB hub which enables the (potentially USB free) MacBook Air to connect with USB devices is going to "put a final nail in the USB coffin and force the industry to shift to TB interface"?

 

[rusty2192]

well, I received my MBP 15 with the anit-glare and don't like the screen.

Now I'm back to the MBA but how the heck am I going to back up to a HD with FW 2.0?

I suppose I'll have to look into a wireless backup.

FW 2.0? What the heck is that? FW 800? USB 2.0 typo?

Why are you so opposed to backing up over USB 2.0? If it's just a back-up, who cares if it takes a little while. Let it run overnight if you need to, or just use incremental backups where it only adds what has changed (a la time machine, or Carbon Copy Cloner). I just moved over 500 GB worth of movies over USB 2.0 last week. It took about 5 hours.

 

[537635]

I just can't fathom how making a TB hub which enables the (potentially USB free) MacBook Air to connect with USB devices is going to "put a final nail in the USB coffin and force the industry to shift to TB interface"?

Well... people will buy Apple laptops, whether they have an USB port or not. So in turn there would be more pressure on the industry to start offering TB equiped hardware.

It was the same with old COM ports. You can still get a USB->COM adapter... but you would be hard pressed to find a new external device, that still uses it (sure it's speed is inadequate, but so is USB's).

But if we stick to the subject, I'm pretty sure the new Air will be USB 2.0 / TB. With Intel still not supporting the new USB interface I see no other alternative. And with that in mind I started wondering what is the point of keeping the 2.0 interface if they're probably never going to switch to 3.0.

 

[darngooddesign]

No, because if you have an actual need for USB 3 or Thunderbolt you won't be on a Macbook Air in the first place.

Unless you want to connect an external monitor; currently the MacBook Pros use Thunderbolt for that. Apple is not going to put MDP in addition to TB where space is limited.

 

[biodigitaljazz]

Unless you want to connect an external monitor; currently the MacBook Pros use Thunderbolt for that. Apple is not going to put MDP in addition to TB where space is limited.

Yeah- the TB on the MBPs does what MDP was designed for, in addition to speedy file transfer.

I think, of course because of price/availability, it will take forever for TB to become as widely used as USB2 was. Same thing for Blu-ray, and DVD- while I do buy my movies on Blu-ray now, it still seems like a relatively new technology, although I do know for certain we will never see it on Macs, unfortuantely.

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

Thunder bolt >>> USB 3.0