apple to support USB 3.0

http://www.pcworld.com/article/239472/a ... acs.html#tk.rss_news

Apple could build in USB 3.0 support in its future Macs to go alongside the high-speed Thunderbolt connection technology.

VR Zone reports that Apple is considering the move as prices for USB 3.0 host controllers at an all-time low - around $2-$3 apiece when bought in bulk. This compares to $10-$15 for a Thunderbolt chip, according to the report.

Though many commentators have put USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt down as competing technologies, Intel, the creator of Thunderbolt, plans to build USB 3.0 support into its hardware in the near future.

However, Apple will get there first, according to the VR Zone report, and Apple apparently sees the decision as a no-brainer, as USB 3.0 is backward-compatible. Continuing to offer only USB 2.0 ports on future Macs when USB 3.0 controllers are so cheap just wouldn't make sense.

In terms of data transfer speeds, though, Thunderbolt has a clear edge over USB 3.0. But as the report points out, Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals are more expensive to produce than USB 3.0-compatible peripherals.

Thunderbolt ports were first introduced in the February 2011 refresh to the MacBook Pro line-up, and have since come to the iMac, MacBook Air and Mac mini ranges. Sony has also used the technology in its Vaio range.

It won't be happening, not yet at least. Right now USB serves as a general connector and the speed is fast enough for most people. Most USB 3.0 benefits at this stage come from the speed, say of an external hard drive. Apple doesn't need this. Follow this logic:

Consumers don't need ultra fast speeds. USB 2.0 is fast enough for them. For the people that do need these ultra fast speeds they can afford to invest in Thunderbolt. Apple wants Thunderbolt to be their next high speed I/O connector.

The way Apple works is with each release they focus on something new. Last year the effort was supplying all their computers with next generation GPUs. The focus this year was Thunderbolt. This is why the MacBook Air revamp of last year had the same GPU as the 13" MacBook Pro but a lower end CPU. This year the stars lined up, we got Thunderbolt plus the next generation of Intel Core CPUs. This combined with the previous logic means we won't see USB 3.0 until it's as wide spread as USB 2.0 is.