How do you sell a generation of hardware manufacturers on yet another standard? If you're Intel, you tell them that it'll
transfer files at 10Gbps and is
compatible with every major protocol that came before... and if that doesn't work, you simply
fail to give your competitor hardware support. But
PC World reports that while Intel is still dragging its feet regarding USB 3.0, it's planning to have Light Peak fiber optic devices in the market next year. Intel insists Light Peak isn't meant to replace USB, in so much as it can use the same ports and protocols (photographic evidence above), but at the same time it's not shying away from the possibility of obliterating its copper competition with beams of light. "In some sense we'd... like to build the last cable you'll ever need," said Intel's Kevin Kahn. Now, we're not going to rag on Light Peak, because
we honestly love the idea of consolidated fiber optic connectivity. We just want to know
now whether we should bother locking ourselves into a USB 3.0 ecosystem if better things are just around the corner.
posted April 15th 2010 1:52AM
@DefPoet You're just mad because you tried to source Wikipedia in a college paper and it didn't fly.
Using Wikipedia as a source in conversation is not the same as using it as a source in a college paper...but anyway if you can't click on the source link in Wikipedia to get the reference cited, it's your own fault.
@laze
And good riddance to USB for their snail upgrade pace and their inconsistent/deceptive maximum speed specs. In the land of competition, the consumer wins and it is about damn time USB got a run for Its money.
HALLELUJAH!
wish it was coming out sooner, hope it gets rid of all the old ports and stuff on computers these days
MORE POWERRRRRR
@JKooL No, actually, since this is fiber it has virtually no power at all.
@DrDr
Well since it will come packed inside USB3 cables, it will (very much likely) carry the power that USB3.0 delivers through its copper wires...RTFA!
I'll take Internet service delivered via Light Peak, kthxbye.
My question is, it all goes back to electronics again, what chip will enable this theoretical 10gbps??
@Sweetrobbo The same chips that enable 10gbps fibre links on 10gbps PCI-E fibre network cards?
The real question is, what connected device is going to be able to utilize 10gbps of bandwidth? :)
@higherdestiny .. the idea behind LightPeak is it is an ultimate connector designed to run multiple protocols over it.
So the idea would be you could have a cable with a LightPeak connector on one end and on the other:
- 1 GB ethernet
- DisplayPort video
- Digital audio
- 3 x USB
- 2 x Firewire
Pretty sure you would find ways now and in the future to saturate the bandwidth.
@taligent SSSSD, super-speed SSD...wait, maybe just connect that to the M/B? I totally want this to saturate my pants and/or bandwidth.
any copper hookups so I can charge my devices with that thing ?
Otherwise, "the last cable I'll ever need" is useless for about half my needs.
@obarthelemy They're working in bundling copper into the same cable for carrying power, don't worry. ;)
What I don't get is, Why light? We already have 10 Gb ethernet so that apparently doesn't require fibers. Fibers don't have lower latency; yes they don't have the problem of electromagnetic interference, but honestly when was the last time that YOU did?; yes they can be used for really long cables without having to boost the signal, but then again 10Gb ethernet allows for 100m.
I really don't get how this can be justified; I can't imagine that it will be just ass cheap as copper.
@Viktor for short cables with good current carrying capacity to power harddrives and the like, it makes absolutely no sense over less expensive and already available USB3.
My entire household is currently running Intel, but with the improvements and performance and pricing in the AMD lineup lately, I feel a change coming on. =)
@Viktor .. The issue could be around the data protocol multiplexing. Using fiber optic you have the ability to pass different data streams using different light wavelengths. With ethernet you don't have that ability.
LightPeak is really amazing because it is essentially a "future proof" connector as advancements in data protocols won't result in new connectors being needed.
@taligent
Until there is an advancement in BENDABLE fiber lightpeak will not gain traction in the consumer market
@DefPoet .. Welcome to the future genius. Oh wait bendable fibre cables have been around for decades:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber#Optical_fiber_cables
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK
Go check your computer's ports .. it probably has a Toslink digital audio port. All Macs do for example.
@taligent
Linking to a Wikipedia article really makes you look unintelligent
and if you actually handled one of those audio cards then you would know that you cant bend them either now please do research before posting your garbage
@DefPoet Toslink isn't a card. It's a cable. And see the picture of how the cable is coiled up?
Better things will always be just around the corner. USB 3, lightpeak, brains in jars. If you wait to get the next big thing you will never buy anything.
@Defcon zero
Does it come with pickles? That brain in jar?
Lightpeak speeds is great and all but fiber as a consumer cord is a big bag of hurt. You bend it to far or bundle it up and goodbye data transfer. I personally would use it because I am careful with my cords. The vast majority of computer users on the other hand are not
Why not use faster than light communication? When you alter a particle that is entangled with another particle, all you have to do to send information is change one particle, the other particle instantly changes, and deduce the mirrored information... Very basic simple concept, why the hell hasn't it been created yet!? Perhapse the universe would become 4-dimensional swiss-cheese, lol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement
@biosystemics
Since you think its so easy, why don't you go ahead and create it?
@Oli D Because I would rather work on nanofabrication (3d printer) technology that can print anything from food and clothing to nanoelectronics. People are also working on entanglement at higher temperatures: http://technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24797/
Well that's a half-truth. Sure you can bend them but they are not nearly as bendable as traditional copper cables.
"Last cable you'll ever need" So Intel doesn't like making profits from replacing outdated hardware regularly?
Kevin Kahn...Kahn...KAAAAAAAAAAAHNN!!!!!
Couldn't they have the standard copper for the purpose of any electrical charge being required and then have the optical cable running parralel to it?
I'm not a fan of Intel but...
"Intel showed a laptop with a Light Speak cable attached to a USB 3.0 port that simultaneously transmitted a Blu-ray video and HD camcorder footage and drove a second display"
This is badass!
Fiber is expensive and fragile. Unless you need to go more than 328 feet, you don't need fiber. Even 10 gigabit ethernet can do 328 feet on copper.
And in the meantime they'll continue to use near-monopolistic tactics to kill their competition, rather then simply putting out a better product at a better value. And people actually ask me why I don't like Intel >_
There's always a new tech around the corner to make this years tech redundant. Buy what you need people.In a years time. You'll need something else. All motherboards will come with USB 3.0, LightPeak, Firewire, eSATA, Ethernet and PS2 ports.
LightPeak will be the first evolutionary piece of technology in a long time.