It looks like Apple will indeed re-brand Intel Light Peak as "Thunderbolt" and combine it with Mini DisplayPort!

Intel has been incredibly tight-lipped about Light Peak. Although I’ve been hounding my contacts inside the company for months, no one has spilled the beans about anything. All I know about Light Peak I learned on the Internet, as they say. Now comes another bombshell: Apple will introduce Light Peak-equipped MacBook Pros tomorrow (February 24) with “Thunderbolt”, a high-speed I/O port!

One could easily guess that Apple would rename Light Peak for its own use. It did the same with its previous high-speed I/O port, IEEE 1394, known among Apple users as FireWire. A trademarked name allows Apple to control compatibility to some extent, requiring users of the name to submit to Apple’s guidelines and perhaps pay a fee for its use. And Light Peak seems an especially poor name amid rumors that it will not use an optical connection after all!

The news comes from the German-language site, FSCKLog, and includes photos of the 13″ MacBook Pro spec sheet, the Thunderbolt logo, and even the ports on the side of the machine!

If we take this as fact (and the logo it pretty convincing) here’s what we know about Apple’s implementation of Light Peak:

1. Apple will call it “Thunderbolt” and refers to it as a “High-speed I/O” port
2. Apple will integrate Thunderbolt with the Mini DisplayPort connector (rather than a USB 3.0 port as I had guessed)
   1. The German spec sheet says “Thunderbolt-Anschluss unterstuetzt High-Speed E/A und Mini DisplayPort Geraete”, which means “Thunderbolt port supports High-Speed I/O devices and Mini DisplayPort”.
   2. The side photo shows an ordinary-looking Mini DisplayPort connector with a little thunderbolt icon next to it. Under magnification, I don’t see any sign of image manipulation in this photo.
3. Since it’s integrated with the Mini DisplayPort connector, it’s likely Apple will use the monitor as a high-speed I/O hub or breakout box
   1. Expect to see a new line of Cinema Displays with Thunderbolt-powered ports embedded in them.
   2. I bet companies like Belkin will quickly come out with Thunderbolt breakout boxes.
4. The MacBook Pro will still include FireWire 800 and (2x) USB 2.0 I/O ports, in addition to a MagSafe power port, Gigabit Ethernet port, and SDXC card slot.
5. There is no mention of USB 3.0, though I strongly suspect it will be included in the Thunderbolt spec.

Interested in learning more? You might want to check out some of my other articles about Light Peak, or my Light Peak performance comparison infographic!

Stephen’s Stance

I was skeptical that Apple would introduce Light Peak this month, though confident it would come this year. But this evidence is very convincing, if not wholly satisfying. I’ve been holding off on upgrading my three-year-old Santa Rosa MacBook Pro until Apple released some kind of serious I/O: A few USB 2.0 and FireWire ports just doesn’t cut it for my use. I do hope these new Sandy Bridge MacBook Pros meet my needs, though, because I’m itching for an upgrade!

But the specific inclusion and mention of USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 ports gives me pause. Why put USB 2.0 on board instead of USB 3.0? Why bundle “Thunderbolt” with the Mini DisplayPort connector rather than a USB 3.0 port? Why is there no mention of what Thunderbolt is useful for? I’m concerned that Thunderbolt might not be fully baked, and might not deliver the “high-speed I/O” I wanted. Early adopters could be stuck with limited compatibility and connectivity, and there is no telling if my “breakout box” concept will come to fruition. Heck, Thunderbolt could carry just video and audio for all we know!

Image credit: FSCKLog

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | Will Apple Call Light Peak “Thunderbolt”?
This post was categorized as Apple, Computer History, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Apple is recalling every iPhone 3G power adapter with American-style (NEMA 1 or Type A) plugs

Wow! Apple is recalling and replacing all of the compact power adapters shipped with every iPhone 3G sold to date in many countries! According to Apple’s support release, the prongs can break off and become lodged in an outlet, posing a risk of electric shock. And of course, inconveniencing the person who wants to keep their iPhone charged! American-style two-blade adapters in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and several Latin American countries are affected.

Looks like Apple is trying to make good on their defective power designs. Let’s hope they learn from this and the MagSafe debacle and make better-quality devices in the future!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2008. | Apple Replaces ALL iPhone 3G Power Adapters
This post was categorized as Apple. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Although mine remains pristine, I’ve been wary of the delicate connector since day 1. Making matters worse, Apple has patented the MagSafe connection, so no third-party alternatives are available.

Up until yesterday, Apple refused to admit that their design caused these failures, and folks report mixed success in securing replacements (under warranty) when they have failed. Purchasing a new power supply from Apple is an $80 proposition, but many have been forced to do just that.

However, as of yesterday, Apple officially announced that they will evaluate and replace defective power supplies whether under warranty or not. All one has to do is bring the unit (not the computer) in to an Apple store’s Genius Bar. I imagine they will be replacing quite a few of these in the next month or so, and supplies might become scarce.

What I’d really like to see is a redesign of the thing to make it less prone to failure. The MacBook Air’s connector is angled so the cord runs alongside the machine instead of sticking out, a positive move in my eyes. But the Air uses a low-wattage supply so one cannot use it with a MacBook, let alone a MacBook Pro.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2008. | Apple Comes Clean on MagSafe Failures
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Although some shortcomings have appeared, I’m pleased with the Mac overall. It definitely met my expectations and continues to meet my needs, mixing portability and performance in an excellent package.  I am impressed by Apple’s hardware design and component choices, especially when compared to other computers with similar specifications that I have used.  And, as noted by Tom’s Hardware, the specification of the machine was reasonably priced, especially since I purchased it at a substantial discount and upgraded it myself.

This post is part of my series focused on switching from PC to Mac.

• How To Buy Discount Apple Computers
• Got Some AppleCare For Cheap
• Switch! or How the Mac (Finally) Won Me Over
• Switch Day 1: This Mac is Hot!
• Switch Day 58: Ten Pros and Cons of the MacBook Pro

1. The Value Quotient is High

The value of a computer system is determined by two elements: Its specification, in terms of the components used, and the net price.  Macs are known to be pricey but often include high-end components and materials in their construction.  Focusing solely on the core interchangeable components of my Mac, evaluating it as a generic PC, the overall value for the money is very high.

My MacBook Pro contains a high-spec NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics card with 128 MB of dedicated GDDR3 video memory, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 “Merom” CPU, Intel’s “Santa Rosa” PM965 chipset, built-in FireWire S800 and USB, a slot-loading 8x DVD-RW drive, gigabit Ethernet, Wireless-N Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, webcam, and slick features like an LED-backlit display and keyboard and infrared remote control.  My system’s MSRP was $2000, but I purchased it for $1524 (after receiving the rebate check).

Although PCs are available for less (I bought a family knockabout laptop for $435 recently!), a similar spec laptop from any major manufacturer would cost at least this much, even a year after this model MacBook Pro came out.  In my case, I am comparing the Mac to the Dell XPS M1330 laptop I use for work, which arrived the day before the Mac.  The Dell is a “thin and light” model with a 13″ screen, but feels almost the same weight as the Mac and is actually somewhat fatter with its 9-cell battery. The Dell retailed for $1700, including the inferior 8400M GS graphics and no gigabit ethernet.

Judging by these objective observations, the Mac was clearly a good value and features a strong set of components.  Note that both machines feature the flawed NVIDIA graphics chips, as do nearly all high-end notebooks, so I can’t fault anyone for that particular component choice.

2. Performance rocks

Even though my MacBook features the Merom CPU clocked at a modest (by 2008 standards) 2.2 GHz rather than the latest 2.4 GHz or more Penryn, the system as a whole just flies.  Mine is packed with 4 GB or RAM instead of the stock 2 GB, and my upgraded 320 GB hard drive is slightly quicker than the stock, both of which improve overall performance somewhat.  But even tasks that aren’t memory-intensive are super-quick, thanks to the 800 MHz front-side bus and solid system design.  The system is snappy in OS X, encodes video with ease, and is subjectively faster than my similar Dell when using Windows Vista Ultimate in Boot Camp.  The Dell has the same chipset and CPU, but is clocked at 2.0 rather than 2.2 GHz and has only 2 GB of RAM, so comparisons are not exactly apples-to-apples, but the Dell is noticeably slower.  

3. The Display is Gorgeous

The wide, LED-backlit 15″ screen is just gorgeous.  The off-angle performance is so good, even with the backlight turned all the way down, that the Mac suffers from serious over-the-shoulder “eavesviewing” issues.  My Dell is pretty much invisible off-angle, even without the privacy screen supplied by my company, but the Mac shows your photos and documents even at extreme angles. Not that I’m complaining, though – this performance just makes it that much more beautiful when I’m alone. There’s no need to constantly adjust the screen angle for optimal viewing.

4. The Chassis is Sturdy

The Mac really shines when one compares its sturdiness to the competition.  The Dell is flexy and plasticky, as is just about every non-ThinkPad PC notebook I’ve used recently.  But the Mac raises the bar even compared to my favorite laptop of all time, the brick-strong HP OmniBook 800.

The only poor spot is the nifty magnetic latch.  Although it works well most of the time (and exists – the Dell has no latch at all), it doesn’t lock closed as cleanly as I would like.  There is a gap around the edges, and lifting the closed Mac from one side tends to make the latch disengage.

5. Input is Solid

I’m a stickler for a good keyboard and can’t fault the Mac here.  It’s not exactly a Model M, but the keys feel good and are arranged and sized reasonably.  Even adjusting to the Mac keyboard layout hasn’t been much of an issue, since most functions remain in similar positions between Mac and Windows.

The trackpad is especially strong. PC notebooks normally have perplexingly tiny trackpads, so I’m always running out of space, but the Mac’s is generously sized and highly usable. It’s easily four times larger than the Dell’s!  I do wish there were two ”mouse” buttons, though.  Although OS X and Windows in Fusion supports two-finger-tap as a right-click, Boot Camp frustratingly does not!

6. The Apple Remote Could Be Improved

Let’s start by stating that I have never owned a PC that came with a remote control, so the Mac deserves kudos for even including one, though the 2008 models don’t. But the remote is just odd. Although it’s usable enough, it’s not integrated, hardware-wise, with the system. It’s clearly a throwback to the glossy white plastic Apple look of a half-decade ago, so like the power brick and DVI adapter it seems totally out of place next to the brushed aluminum MacBook Pro. And, judging from its size and shape, I expected it to dock in the ExpressCard slot of the Mac like a MoGo mouse, but it’s slightly too fat for that. Also, an IR remote seems out of date in these Bluetooth days. So, Apple, how about a dockable, Bluetooth, matching remote next time?

7. Battery Life Isn’t Great

Battery life has been about three hours in my hands, which isn’t terrible, but isn’t as good as I hoped. I ended up buying a second battery for the Mac for transcontinental flights. I did the same for my last Dell, of course, so this isn’t news. On the bright side, the Mac battery was cheaper and far more readily available than the Dell – I just dropped by the bright, cheery Apple store in Palo Alto during my last trip and picked one up instead of waiting for Dell to deliver one to my home. I still can’t get hot-swap to work, though, since my Mac refuses to suspend to disk.

8. Upgradability is Mixed

Upgrading the RAM on a MacBook Pro is just right, but swapping out the hard drive was much more difficult than it should have been. Disks should be user-replaceable, even in laptops, and the regular MacBook gets this right. The Mac also has poorer expandability than most PC laptops, since its Wi-Fi (sorry, “AirPort Extreme”) card is buried inside and it lacks a slot and antenna wiring for a 3G cell card. The fact that the Pro only has an ExpressCard slot isn’t that novel in today’s world, however, but the regular MacBook’s lack of one was a major factor in my choosing the Pro.

9. It’s Hot and Loud

My first impression was that the fan was deafening and the bottom was toasty. After using it for a few months, I have either gotten used to both or they aren’t as bad anymore. The machine still gets pretty hot on the bottom under heavy use, and the fan still makes a loud “whoosh”, but neither is unbearable or unusual when compared to other PCs, like my previous Dell XPS M1210.

10. Light Sensors are Confounding

I was intrigued by the idea of the MacBook Pro’s ambient light sensor, which would dim the display backlight and unique keyboard backlight under changing light conditions. But this was the first feature I disabled after actually using it. The sensor is located under your left pinky when typing, so the display suddenly dims and brightens as your hand passes over it. So I just adjust the backlight manually.

Then there is the keyboard backlight. The key cap markings are dark enough to be difficult to see in bright light, but the sensor won’t let the light come on, even when you press the hotkey to turn it on manually! I ended up installing Lab Tick to turn it on manually within OS X, but I expected more from Apple engineering. The light sensor is worse than useless.

11. USB is a Disappointment

As I noted in another post, the lack of a full-power dedicated USB port is a special disappointment. The 15″ MacBook Pro has just two ports, like most modern PC notebooks, but both are compromised. The one on the left lacks the power to spin up an external hard drive, and the one on the right is shared with the internal iSight camera. At least the FireWire is blazing fast and fully-powered! But I expected a better design from Apple.

12. The AC Adapter Is Obnoxious
    My biggest complaint is the “elegant” MagSafe AC adapter. Count the flaws:
    • The poor strain relief on the thin cable is known to fray and burn
    • Third-party replacements and alternatives are not available thanks to Apple patents
    • The cord-wrap “ears” aren’t large enough to actually hold the entire wrapped cord
    • The fact that there are three different identical-looking adapters with different wattage outputs is a nightmare waiting to strike the unwary
    • The iPod-like on-brick plug just barely hangs on when the weight of the brick is hung from a vertical wall outlet
    • Glossy white?!?

The AC adapter is a perfect example of the form-over-function flaws always cited by Apple critics. I expected better, and Apple refuses to admit the defects even as these things spark and burn.

Again, I’m happy overall with the Mac and would definitely buy one again. In fact, I think it’s about the best computer purchase I’ve ever made, even including the iPhone and my beloved OmniBook 800 and Portege 3010 subnotebooks. The flaws are minor compared to the overall strengths!

(Ok, there are twelve pros and cons, but ten rolls off the tongue better!)

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2008. | Switch Day 58: Ten Pros and Cons of the MacBook Pro
This post was categorized as Apple, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

This post is part of my series focused on switching from PC to Mac.

• How To Buy Discount Apple Computers
• Got Some AppleCare For Cheap
• Switch! or How the Mac (Finally) Won Me Over
• Switch Day 1: This Mac is Hot!
• Switch Day 58: Ten Pros and Cons of the MacBook Pro

• The MacBook Pro is much sturdier than the average PC notebook, and even somewhat better than the high-end machines I’ve used (like my replacement Dell XPS M1330)
• The machine is hot on the bottom when using it a lot, and even pretty hot on the top!
• The fan is really loud – much louder than I was expecting
• The MagSafe power cord is cute but very delicate – I’m not surprised at all that they break and burn right and left!
• The screen is gorgeous – I got the matte model rather than the glossy since I hate the bright reflections I always fight with on my other machines
• I wish the 15″ model I got had more than two USB ports – I just know I’m going to be swapping a lot more than I used to.  But the new Dell has only two ports, too – my old XPS M1210 had four!
• Since I got the older model, it included the Apple remote, which is cute
• Everything about this machine is classier and more elegant than any PC I’ve ever used, from the packaging to the case to the documentation to the power cord
• I hate the auto-dimming screen – it reacts WAY too fast, constantly dimming and brightening as my shadow falls over the left-side speaker grille. This was the first Mac feature to be disabled!

One really odd thing about this machine is that even though it’s a “Late 2007″ model, it was manufactured in April 2008!  Why on earth did Apple continue making the old model two months after it was replaced in February with the “early 2008″ version?

As for OS X Leopard, I’ve just begun exploring…

• Anyone who complains about UAC on Windows should try OS X – it interrupts just about as much but forces you to type in your password, too!
• I love the packaging system – everything is self-contained so you can just drag and drop or delete
• It took me the longest time to figure out how to be able to shut the lid and use the computer with an external monitor – turns out it always sleeps when you shut the lid but then wakes up again when you click the mouse or type on the keyboard
• The included applications look much more useful than the ones that ship with Vista, which themselves are far better than anything Microsoft bundled in the past – I can’t wait to use iMovie and Garage Band, and iPhoto seems just as good as Google’s Picasa
• I’m loving the included UNIX utilities – ssh and scp should be part of every operating system out of the box!
• It’s ridiculously hard to change the hostname – apparently you have to edit /etc/hostconfig by hand!  Do they expect that no regular people want to name their computer?!?
• Network setup beats Vista hands-down!  It correctly suggested that my wireless router was filtering based on MAC address, while Vista just said “can’t connect”
• I already installed Boot Camp and VMware Fusion with a Windows Vista partition – talk about easing the transition!

I’ll keep updating the blog with my experiences over the next few months.  As a reminder, I offer separate feeds for Enterprise Storage for those not interested in this topic, which will be posted in my Terabyte Home feed.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2008. | Switch Day 1: This Mac is Hot!
This post was categorized as Apple, Personal, Terabyte home, Virtual Storage. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.