Intel Light Peak "Launching" in 2011, Maybe 2012
Intel's optical-based successor to USB 3.0 may worm its way into products during 2011.
It only makes sense that Intel's Light Peak is the next step after USB 3.0. After all, there's only so much speed you can push across a wire--optical cables however can handle far more data. The new tech is slated to not only provide a transfer rate of 10 Gbps, but will also be backwards compatible with a USB 3.0 port.
With that said, it's no wonder that Intel is pushing its new technology to take the place of the current USB tech in 2011. "We view this as a logical future successor to USB 3.0," said Intel's Kevin Kahn during a speech at the Intel Developer forum in Beijing (via PCWorld). "In some sense we'd... like to build the last cable you'll ever need."
Kahn said that Intel plans to make the Light Peak technology available late this year, and expects Intel partners to bring Light Peak-enabled devices to the market sometime next year. But with USB 3.0 just recently out the door, Light Peak may not go mainstream until at least the beginning of 2012 if not later.
"We expect both [USB 3.0 and Light Peak] to exist together in the market and perhaps on the same platform at the same time," Kahn said during a presentation. While there's no conflict between the two technologies, Light Peak will still have the upper hand by allowing USB and other protocols to run together on a single, longer cable. The connections are also smaller than USB jacks, an important factor with small mobile devices.
Kahn said that Intel may add Light Peak supports into its chipsets, depending on how fast the industry embraces the new optical technology next year.
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And remind me just how many peripherals will see a benefit from this? Input devices certainly won't, they don't even need USB 2.0's bandwith. External HDD's? Maybe. Current magnetic storage isn't even close to saturating USB 3.0 and even SSD's have more than enough bandwidth with USB 3.0.
Until we see affordable and especially fast external SSD's (way faster than even the best internal SSD's currently on the market), there is no need for this technology, and I don't see that happen by 2011. As so often, companies create yet another expensive standard without a clear benefit for consumers. Servers might have a use for it though?
And remind me just how many peripherals will see a benefit from this? Input devices certainly won't, they don't even need USB 2.0's bandwith. External HDD's? Maybe. Current magnetic storage isn't even close to saturating USB 3.0 and even SSD's have more than enough bandwidth with USB 3.0.
Until we see affordable and especially fast external SSD's (way faster than even the best internal SSD's currently on the market), there is no need for this technology, and I don't see that happen by 2011. As so often, companies create yet another expensive standard without a clear benefit for consumers. Servers might have a use for it though?
1Gbps only equals 128MB/s
1024 devide 8 = 128
and there are hard drives that have speed close to this
It is still progress and has I see it there is no other way.
Ron
Well i suppose you could have a single Light Peak port in the computer & be able to connect a sort of an adaptor with multiple light peak outputs, n then branch those to different devices. Much like an extension
switch-board where you can connect multiple plugs on the same board. This way, the high 10 Gbps speed of the port can be divided equally amongst the devices connected to the adaptor. You'l still need a high speed ssd, though ...
Alternatively, you could use the port to power high wattage devices.
I'm no expert, I'm just speculating ...
How is it usb 3.0 compatible but a smaller form factor?
Well i suppose you could have a single Light Peak port in the computer & be able to connect a sort of an adaptor with multiple light peak outputs, n then branch those to different devices. Much like an extension switch-board where you can connect multiple plugs on the same board. This way, the high 10 Gbps speed of the port can be divided equally amongst the devices connected to the adaptor. You'l still need a high speed ssd, though ...Alternatively, you could use the port to power high wattage devices.I'm no expert, I'm just speculating ...
Hubs would certainly benefit hugely.
How is it usb 3.0 compatible but a smaller form factor?
That could imply another part of the adapter is smaller, like, the length of the connector. Which would work.
"1Gbps only equals 128MB/s
1024 devide 8 = 128
and there are hard drives that have speed close to this"
well this tech provides 10 Gbps not one. You know any drives achieving that speed einstein ?
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=18135
They're saying 2010 however I didn't spot anything in the article to substantiate this claim.
Light Peak has many uses, for one it can replace DVI/HDMI. Which by itself is not all that important. But it would seriously reduce the wire clutter with multi-monitor set ups.
Docking stations would need one wire for monitor, mouse, k/board etc.
Also optical wires don't have a EM field around them and equally aren't affected my EM fields - reducing inteference.
The main drawbacks with be price and fraglity.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.a [...] 135They're saying 2010 however I didn't spot anything in the article to substantiate this claim.
Silverblue !! Whazzup !!!
Just want to confirm ... but optical solutions dont provide power?
I dont see how something can be a USB "successor" when it can'y provide power down the line (USB's simplicity has allways been helped but small devices not needing another power supply!).
Good point...
Well more information should eventually come up with how they would address the issues you guys stated mostly about the USB powered items. I don't have a clue as to what they can do to that but by what some of you said, replacing HDMI/DVI cables, I dunno. HDMI is already just as easy to use as USB so essentially it's more of getting rid of the DVI connectors that you need to stay screwing to secure them.
Though as another person pointed out, docking stations could most likely benefit from this, having multiple wires cut down to just one.