shownotes_MCM20110522

What is it?
  In development at Intel since 2009
    Code-named Light Peak and branded a Thunderbolt when Apple announced it on new Macbook Pros earlier this year.
    Originally a fiber optic technology
    Also added a copper variant (which is what Apple is currently using) to support power via the connector.
    Intel worked with Apple to help develop the technology. It's believed Apple influenced or asked for the Mini Display port compatibility.
  10Gbps full-duplex data transfer speeds (meaning it allows 10Gbps of data per second both into and out of each port, simultaneously)
    Intel claims it will get the technology up to 50Gbps by 2015
  Integrates support for the DisplayPort and PCI Express 2.0 standards.
    Intel's controllers handle all the necessary protocol switching between PCI Express and DisplayPort, which enables simultaneous transmission of data via both protocols over the same cable.
    Combines PCI Express and DisplayPort into a new serial data interface
    Uses same connector as MiniDisplay Port
      Mini Display Port is a connector developed by Apple, but made available for a free license.
      Likely a good choice because DisplayPort supports speeds up to 17.28 Gbps in cable lengths under 3 meters.
    Really just a connection that combines the two in one port.
  Powered
    up to 10W total per port. Furthermore, powered devices in the chain can pass 10W of power further down the chain if needed.
  Can daisy chain of up to seven Thunderbolt devices
    Plus two high-resolution displays using DisplayPort.
    Displays need to be at the end of the daisy chain.
Who owns Thunderbolt?
  Apple owned the trademark on Thunderbolt, but reportedly transferred it to Intel.
  Intel is currently the sole vendor of the necessary Thunderbolt controller chip.
  Intel doesn't seems to be giving PC vendors the option for Thunderbolt supported motherboards, but has said Apple didn't pay for any exclusivity.
    Expected in PCs in 2012
  Unlike Firewire, there’s no per-port licensing fee or royalty for peripheral manufacturers to use the port or the Thunderbolt controller.
Advantages of Thunderbolt
  External storage access as fast as internal.
    6/Gbps SATA 3.0 are the fastest HDDs you can get at the moment?
  High speed HD and video transfers.
  extremely low-latency. Connected devices can be clock-synchronized to within 8 nanoseconds.
  Thunderbolt isn't a protocol, but instead simply provides a new physical layer for existing connector protocols.
  Anything that can be used with a PCIe expansion slot could work as a Thunderbolt device
    This is because you can tunnel a PCIe lane over the link connection.
      It is in essence it becomes like an external PCI slot
    Think of it like brining back the Express 34 card slot on the Macbook Pro.
    Cables, adapters, external video cards.
  Chaining different devices doesn't effect the bus
    If you chain in other technologies you need to be careful about how.
    Don't want an older FW 800 drive in the middle of your Thunderbolt chain.
    Will see hubs and adapters to deal with branching chains.
What about USB 3.0?
  Intel doesn't yet support USB 3.0 natively on its motherboard chipsets.
    Intel has said it will feature native support for both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 standards in chipsets using its next-generation "Ivy Bridge" CPU architecture.
  USB 3.0 features 5Gbps maximum data transfer speeds--half that of Thunderbolt
  USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices.
  USB 3.0 does not feature native support for any video bus or display standards.
  USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt aren't necessarily competitors.
What can I do with my Thunderbolt port?
  At the moment connect a Display Port monitor
  No Thunderbolt-based peripheral devices on the market yet, but lots announced.
    Apple has said to expect them "this summer".
  Some Announced Thunderbolt Devices
    Storage
      Promise Pegasus R4 and Pegasus R6
      LaCie Little Big Disk
      Sonnet Fusion RAID
    Video Capture
      Blackmagic UltraStudio 3D
      Matrox MX02
      Avid HD I/O box
    Adapters
      Promise SAN Link Fibre Channel adapter
      Sonnet Allegro FireWire 800 adapter
      Sonnet Presto Gigabit Ethernet adapter
      Sonnet’s Echo™ Express PCIe 2.0 Expansion Chassis (external PCIe card box).