From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: June 9, 2012 9:20:36 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: VT and USB 3

Hi Kurt and Dave;

On 9-Jun-12, at 7:54 AM, mihalco wrote:

In the last few iterations of the MacBook Pro, Apple has been using Intel mobile chipsets.  The last update, the HM77 Express chipset, incorporates USB3, so hopefully, Apple will support it. But based on their past history, they might see it as competing with their thunderbolt port ...

I'd have to agree, especially on a cost basis.

Both Apple and Intel have been dragging their feet on USB 3. I suspect it's because both don't generate royalties or have such tight control  for USB 3 like they do for Thunderbolt.

That was one of the main issue with FireWire too - purchasing documentation was (still is - the 1.3.2 IIDC specification costs $300 USD for about 1 page of changes from the IIDC 1.3.1 revision) and the per port royalties drove the cost up dramatically compared to USB.

And I have read and had a few customers tell me that Thunderbolt to Express card is not a good user experience at all. Flaky performance, odd quirks in what cards are or aren't supported  and stability issues seem to be the norm rather than the exception.

Milton J. Aupperle

Kurt

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Dave Goodyear <dave@...> wrote:

Us 15" MBP users are SOL for USB 3.0 unless I get a thunderbolt to expresscard adapter.. but then I lose my thunderbolt/displayport for my external monitor...  sigh..

Dave Goodyear