Intel Demos Light Peak Laptop
PrintIntel hasn't had much to say about their Light Peak technology since it was first shown off at last year's Intel Developer's Forum. But now they've produced a demo laptop with the new data interconnect standard built in. In the demo, Intel fitted a standard USB cable with the Light Peak optical cables, and ran 2 HD video streams through it. The technology uses a 12mm chip at each end of the connection that converts light into computer bits.
Intel hopes that Light Peak will eventually replace USB, DisplayPort, DVI, eSATA, and HDMI. The first generation of the technology should be capable of 10Gb/sec bidirectional data transfers. The current USB 3.0 standard is capable of only 4.8Gb/sec. "We expect to increase that speed dramatically. You'll see multiple displays being served by a single Light Peak connection." said Intel's Justin Rattner.
Intel has delayed the integration of USB 3.0 technology in their chipsets until sometime next year, and many feel this is a ploy to weaken USB, making Light Peak a stronger competitor. According to Intel, Light Peak will be available to manufacturers by the end of the year. Would you be ready to jump to Light Peak for your devices?
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Zoandar
March 26, 2011 at 7:59pm
"...and then you'd have to get monitors with Lightpeak connections too -"
Ssshhhh. We aren't supposed to notice that yet. :) Not until they hype us into WANTING the new technology.
Mr_Histamine
May 05, 2010 at 3:01pm
Why relegate this to an external connection? A connection that might not be utilized to its full potential (let alone, adopted) by any one other than Intel.
It would have made more sense if - oh I don't know - they utilized the interface for internal devices like SSDs. And since SSDs still haven't made it out of their adolescent stage, now would be a perfect time to introduce them to a new interface.
I dunno, I think everyone's all DVI, HDMI, VGA, USB, eSATA, and Firewired out.
________________________________________________________________________________
Please deposit your pride, life, and other garbage in the receptacles at the back of the theater before you leave. Thanks!
dot19408
May 05, 2010 at 7:43am
This looks like the sollution I've been looking for.
I want to install a hot, noisy, gaming rig in my garage with my server.
But I need a way to get DVI + USB back to my desk.
Fiber is the only option, and maybe Light-Peek will be the solution.
WarCrime342
May 04, 2010 at 4:05pm
LightPeak... I'll use that as much as I used the Firewire 1394 port!
BlazePC
May 05, 2010 at 9:06am
That's the problem with these technology layers...they all share the same complexity...the human factor.
USB SuperSpeed has been farting around for years now, at a snails pace. Very typical of these standards commitees and tech firm participants, USB should have leaped frog'd Firewire 800 long ago, but instead it's barely being adopted and/or it's being held back by the big movers and shakers. Is Intel protecting themselves and LightPeak? Who knows. What I do know is this...PC and Mac users should be enjoying the benefits of USB SuperSpeed NOW! There's no excuse. Slow the **** down on the 'new platform' ram-rods for crying out loud and focus on getting out what many many folks have already contributed massive amounts of energy towards and the computing public has been waiting for, for far too long.
That said, Light Peak looks cool - as most new buses and protocols do.
violian
May 04, 2010 at 3:03pm
...and then you'd have to get monitors with Lightpeak connections too - which won't be happening mainstream anytime soon. For PC-monitors atleast, HDMI is still not common - so I can't imagine Lightpeak being popular anytime soon for the PC market.
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