I recently tweeted about how Canadians just like to be “noticed” – every once in a while. Well, I've got a story I'm looking to “get noticed”.
Intel has “allegedly” put the breaks on providing USB 3.0 support in chipsets in 2010, and has pushed this back to a 2011 release date. This was leaked by NVidia, who has been going head to head with Intel, who seems to be acting less and less like a valued partner, and more and more like a competitor. In fact with what started earlier this year with the decision Sony made to push out NVidia and select Intel as the GPU Chip Designer for the PS4…the Intel/NVidia relationship has been a rocky road indeed.
Intel Holds USB Strategy Map “Ransom”
Now folks, it doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. This would be a blatant play on Intel's part to allow their Light Peak Technology to gain momentum in the market. Light Peak is Intel's new high-speed optical cable technology, that would replace the usual connector “suspects”, i.e. USB, HDMI, FireWire, etc. Light Peak “promises” transfer rates of 10 Gb/s out of the gate which sounds impressive doesn't it? But the fact is USB 3.0 offers bi-directional capabilties, is capable of 4.8 Gb/s transfer rates (compared to 480 Mb/s for USB 2.0) and….would be backward compatible with all USB 2.0/1.0 peripherals. Not to mention the fact that USB 3.0 devices are already hitting the scene.
So after working to ratify the USB 3.0 standard for what seems like forever (I tell you I've been hearing about USB 3.0 this for almost 3 years now), Intel is saying…ummm, let's hold on for a bit. This while motherboard manufacturers such as ASUS are hitting the industry with offerings that support the new standard.
The Industry and WE need USB 3.0 **NOW**. Light Peak sounds “way cool”, but give us USB 3.0 now and let Light Peak fight it out on its own merits. In the meantime, we'll be able to transfer our digital assets in 1/10th the time it takes now….now THAT IS INNOVATION INTEL!
-Pedro
