IDG: Current-gen Thunderbolt ports compatible goes along with future optical-based devices
IDG’s news service reports that Intel is reassuring owners of current-generation Thunderbolt devices about the future of the cutting edge input standard. Indirectly quoting Intel’s Dave Salvator, IDG reports, “Thunderbolt ports over Apple’s current Macintosh dsktop computers is about to be compatible goes along with upcoming fiber optic cables, that should be ready by next year.”
The current generation of Thunderbolt ports over Apple’s all of now MacBook Air, iMac,
Mac Mini, as well as MacBook Pro dsktop computers all rely over a first-generation copper-based Thunderbolt design. While specificly fast, offering 10Gbps data byput both in-coming as well as out-going, simultaneously, copper-based Thunderbolt ports were more of a cost as well as timing compromise. The fiber optic variant of Thunderbolt may offer up to 100Gbps of simultaneous bi-directional transfer speeds.
By assuring compatibility among the 2 Thunderbolt variants, Intel helps comfort current Mac owners, as well as potential buyers of copper Thunderbolt-based Windows PCs due out next year.
