If you’ve read the news about today’s launch of Apple’s new MacBook Pro notebook series, you would’ve seen reference to a new port called Thunderbolt. Originally developed by Intel in conjunction with Apple back in 2009 and codenamed “Light Peak”, Thunderbolt is getting a run for the first time in the MacBook Pro range and Apple is bullish about its potential.

Thunderbolt is essentially a multi-purpose interface port that is backward compatible with Apple’s DisplayPort but offering support for a wider array of peripherals.

According to Apple, right now, there are adapters to enable Thunderbolt to work with DVI, VGA and HDMI-based monitors. This isn’t the first time a single port has been able to handle all three video connection types – DVI itself can do this – however, it’s the first time this has been seen on a notebook.

But Thunderbolt looks to be much more than just a way of routing video display signals.

Source: Apple

Thunderbolt essentially routes the PCI-Express bus to an external port, giving access to transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, or twice as fast as USB3.0.

At this rate, Intel claims you’ll be able to transfer a full HD movie in less than 30 seconds or backup a year’s worth of MP3 songs in just over 10minutes.

The interface is said to have dual links that offer that 10Gbps speed in both directions. It’s also dual-protocol, meaning it will handle PCI-Express and DisplayPort data on the same line at the same time.

The Thunderbolt controller is clever enough to handle packets of both protocols and route them to the correct locations.

You’ll also be able to daisy-chain up to six devices devices, not just monitors but external storage including NAS (network attached storage) and external drives.

You can grab more info about Thunderbolt from Intel’s website or you can read the blurb direct from Apple.

The real question is how will it compete with USB3.0? So far Intel has been dragging the chain with USB3.0 – its most recent H67 and P67 chipsets supporting the new Sandy Bridge CPUs launched at the beginning of 2011 do not have USB3.0 on-board. Motherboard manufacturers are turning to solutions from NEC and VIA to provide this functionality.

Interestingly, these chipsets don’t support Thunderbolt either so it would seem the agreement between Apple and Intel is for Apple to get first crack at Thunderbolt.

Obviously, Thunderbolt’s first issue will be support from peripheral device makers. Apple is already selling Thunderbolt adapter cables to enable use with VGA, HDMI and DVI monitors but with both Intel and Apple flogging Thunderbolt’s daisy-chaining ability with other devices, we’ll need to see a decent range of those peripheral devices – storage, capture boxes etc – for Thunderbird to excel.

Thunderbolt’s 10Gbps speed, it’s ability to handle PCI-Express and DisplayPort protocols, its bi-drection capabilities outstretch anything USB3.0 can do. And with double the speed, it has the potential to last longer. The real question is how that speed actually comes out in practice and whether users can actually get full use of that 10Gbps.

For now, Apple is promoting the Promise Pegasus RAID box as well as LaCie’s new Little Big Disk. Intel is also promoting the same companies with some happy quotes from the likes of Western Digital, Promise Technology, Universal Audio and Avid Technology.

Thunderbolt will at least for the time being be a high-end port for semi- and professional use. That also raises questions about how long will Firewire last. Even at its 800Mbps transfer speed, it’s obviously no match for Thunderbolt and you’d have to imagine Firewire will disappear within a couple of PC/notebook generations from now. Although, there’s no reason why Apple couldn’t continue incorporating it.

However, one thing seems clear – neither Intel or Apple have any real incentive to back USB3.0.

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