Week 12 - Thunderbolt

Like most of us, I am used to plugging almost everything into my computer via USB. It was only as I started researching components for a new computer that I discovered that USB (currently on version 3.0) is not the only game in town any more and I don't mean Firewire or SATA either. In the past few years Intel has released a new I/O connector called Thunderbolt. Currently on its second version Thunderbolt 2 Technology boasts an amazing transfer rate of 20 Gbps (Shah, 2014). This is in comparison to USB 3.0 which has a transfer rate of 5 GBPS. USB is trying to catch up, but their new release for later this year, USB 3.1, is only rated at 10 Gbps which is equal to the original Thunderbolt (USB, 2014). So the question is, "Why haven't we heard more about this amazing technology?"

The answer is simple and comes down to two reasons:
First is cost. Like any new technology the starting cost is higher that existing technology. As time passes new technology will become cheaper as production costs improve and streamline into better methods and materials.
Second is inertia. The market is saturated with USB. Any new tech that might displace USB is fighting against all the companies and manufacturers that already have invested in USB and don't want the expense required to change their products. You are also struggling against the public and their perception of USB as the best I/O connection out there. People are often slow to change, especially if they don't see a problem with the existing technology.

Since the creator of Thunderbolt is Intel, it is starting to make a big push. As of right now we are only seeing Thunderbolt in a few areas, though it is growing. Thunderbolt can be found in some Apple computers and peripherals, newer high end motherboards for Intel processors, external hard drives, express docks, and more. If you don't have a motherboard that supports Thunderbolt you can purchase a expansion card by third parties such as ASUS.

Shah, Agam. (2014, March 11.) "Intel bides time on faster Thunderbolt connector." PCWorld. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/2106680/intel-bides-time-on-faster-thunderbolt-connector.html

(2014, April.) "SuperSpeed USB." USB.org Retrieved from http://www.usb.org/developers/ssusb

https://thunderbolttechnology.net/